GKN Aerospace brings latest transparent armour developments to IDEX, 2009

Visit us at IDEX 2009 Abu Dhabi, UAE 22-29 Feb Hall 6, UK Pavilion, Stand C17.

Among the products on display at IDEX, 2009 this month, GKN Aerospace is exhibiting developments in transparent armour which provide critical protection from side blast impact whilst retaining all conventional ballistic protection levels. Early production examples of these systems are now entering service with governments and aid agencies internationally.

In the modern theatre of operations, providing protection from the destructive effect of side blast shock waves - often resulting from improvised roadside bombs - is of real concern. An armoured vehicle's damaged windscreens and windows are vulnerable to being forced from the armour systems by these blasts, leaving the occupants exposed to subsequent ballistic attack. These new transparent armour systems work conjunction with vehicle's opaque armour, offering protection from pressure impact on the windscreen or armoured door windows and ensuring these are retained in the vehicle and continue to provide protection to the occupants.

The new windscreen system employs high tensile material laminated into its curved perimeter. This prevents the windscreen, although fractured, from being forced into the vehicle or blown outwards by the blast. The window within the armoured door is given additional explosive blast resistance through a new steel frame assembled around the curved door glass laminate surface. This frame ensures that the fractured laminate remains within the armour system to protect from secondary attack. The technology used by GKN Aerospace engineers to develop this new protection draws directly on the Company's market leading aircraft windscreens and cockpit transparencies. These equip many thousands of commercial and military aircraft and are installed on all the leading military and civil aircraft programmes.

GKN will also exhibit examples transparent armour for light and medium armoured trucks currently in service around the world and providing high levels of protection to international troops and peacekeepers in theatres of conflict.

GKN Aerospace's high performance transparent armour features high light-transmission glass, integrated heating systems for de-ice and de-mist functionality, anti-reflection coatings (low signature), and EMC/EMP attenuation. Transparent armour is routinely supplied with bespoke metal frames interfacing directly with the autostructure and manufactured from conventional metals and high performance armoured steel. Continuous research and development work by the GKN Aerospace team has led to the integration of novel and proprietary materials within the Company's transparencies, providing improved blast and ballistic protection whilst meeting vehicle weight requirements.

GKN Aerospace has more than 25 years of experience in the design and development of bullet resistant glazing and supports manufacturers of armoured vehicles for Government Organisations and Non-Government organizations and Security Services around the world. The Company also provides comprehensive aftermarket support and spares demand for vehicles operating with agencies via a highly effective logistics network.