FAVS 2025: UK tests MIPS

At its stand at FAVS 2025, Leonardo showed videos of MIPS sensor testing against dummy RPGs (pictured) and UAVs. (Leonardo)

Dstl detailed testing of the Modular Integration Protection System (MIPS) at SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2025 conference held in London from 17 to 19 November.

Leonardo showed videos at its stand at FAVS 2025 of tests of MIPS sensors mounted on a Blackjax armoured vehicle against dummy rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the UK Ministry of Defence's Shoeburyness range in Essex in July. Tom Newbery, Platform Survivability Group lead at Dstl's Platform Systems Division, said the tests involved a 40 mm cased telescopic ammunition (CTA) gun on a Blackjax armoured vehicle that did not actually fire but added that it does not matter what turret is used. In upcoming tests in 2026, the gun will be fired at targets including a first-person view (FPV) UAV.

Newbery described MIPS as a multilayer and multivehicle system architecture for next-generation integrated survivability suites to protect vehicles from FPVs, UAVs, anti-tank guided missiles, and guided and unguided artillery shells. The system also addresses electromagnetic activities. Newbery raised the possibility of using the generic architecture to protect fixed infrastructure and even dismounts. He noted that MIPS is covered by NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4822 on land defensive aids suite architecture. Under a 2022 contract, MIPS is being developed and tested to bring it up to technical readiness level (TRL) 7.

Team Minerva working on MIPS is led by Leonardo and includes QinetiQ, General Dynamics Land Systems, Roke, Thales, CGI, Ultra Electronics, and Frazer-Nash.

For more reporting from the conference, please see FAVS 2025: Boxer fitted with Leopard 2 Trophy APS .