In brief: Weapons system protects tanks

Jerusalem – A new Israeli weapons system knocked down a Palestinian anti-tank rocket in its first combat test Tuesday, the military said, showing off technology that could protect the heavy vehicles that have been the mainstay of the world’s ground forces for decades.

Palestinian militants said they fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli tank as it patrolled near the Gaza-Israel border, a frequent occurrence. This time, the “Trophy” system sensed the incoming rocket and fired its own projectile, blowing it up away from the tank, the military said.

Trophy is thought to be the only active defense system of its kind in the world. Until now, tanks have relied on heavier and thicker armor plating to protect against more powerful anti-tank weapons.

Experts say the active defense concept, if it works consistently, could allow the construction of smaller, lighter and more efficient tanks.

Defense minister resigns in scandal

Berlin – Germany’s popular defense minister resigned Tuesday amid a deepening scandal over plagiarism allegations that threatened to become a liability for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives in upcoming regional elections.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg announced his decision days after Bayreuth University revoked his doctoral title. It said he had violated academic standards in his thesis by failing to sufficiently credit some of his sources.

Guttenberg, who initially called the allegations “absurd,” later admitted “grave mistakes” but denied having deliberately deceived anyone. Merkel stood by him for nearly two weeks after the allegations emerged, arguing that they had no bearing on his work as defense minister.

However, a steady drip of allegations kept the scandal going, and Guttenberg said it threatened to overshadow policy issues such as a major overhaul of the German military and troops’ mission in Afghanistan.