GKN Aerospace introduced its side blast protection technology

At DSEI last month GKN Aerospace exhibited recent developments in transparent armour which offer all conventional ballistic protection levels and add critical protection from side blast impact.

Providing protection from the destructive effect of the side blast shock waves, often from improvised roadside bombs, is of real concern in the modern theatre of operations. An armoured vehicle's damaged windscreens and windows are vulnerable to being forced from the armour systems by the force of a side blast, leaving the occupants exposed to subsequent ballistic attack.

GKN Aerospace's new transparent armour systems work with the vehicle's opaque armour, offering protection from pressure impact on the windscreen or on the windows in the armoured door to ensure these remain in place and continue to provide protection to the vehicle occupants.

The new windscreen system has high tensile material laminated into its curved perimeter. This prevents the windscreen from being forced into the vehicle or blown outwards by the blast, even when fractured. The window in the armoured door is protected with a steel frame around the curved door glass laminate which ensures that any fractured laminate remains within the armour system to protect from secondary attack.

Early production examples of these new systems are now entering service with governments and aid agencies internationally.

GKN Aerospace is exhibiting at DSEI, London, Sept 8 - 11, 2009 (Stand 791-UK Pavilion) and at AUSA, Washington DC, 5 - 7 October 2009.