Ballistics resistant technologies the focus for GKN Aerospace at DSEI, 2013

GKN Aerospace will showcase developments for the military market from its transparencies, emergency flotation and fuel systems businesses on stand S4-362, at DSEI, in London from 10th - 13th September, 2013.

GKN Aerospace's self-sealing fuel tanks enhance the platform's survivability in today's theatres of operation, providing extended protection for the crew against weapons such as heavy machine guns, vehicle and aircraft armaments. These tanks offer the market's most rapid self-sealing response to ballistic damage with 7.62mm to 20mm round protection available for all types of fuel containment systems. The company's ballistically tolerant technology can be integrated at the design phase of a vehicle, retro-fitted or externally fitted at a later stage to ensure fuel supply is maintained during frontline operations.

Emergency flotation systems are also featured on the GKN Aerospace stand. GKN Aerospace is an authority on the specification, design, manufacture and qualification of complete emergency flotation systems and continues to develop new materials and fabrication techniques to meet vital requirements for lighter weight equipment with extended performance and reliability - offering improved crew safety.

The company's transparencies business is displaying a special composition glass that is in production for a lightweight BR7 level vehicle. This provides a significantly lighter, thinner transparency with full ballistic protection against the 7.62 armour piercing threat. Excellent light transmission and optical quality is combined with a 15% weight saving over conventional ‘float glass' kits, representing a 10kg per door saving on typical door armour for a 4x4 sports utility vehicle.

Also on display is the company's instantly dimmable bullet resistant window technology. This combines proven bullet resistant glazing with ‘suspended particle device' (SPD-SmartGlassTM) technology* to offer vehicle occupants instant ‘on-demand' light control and attenuation giving privacy and protection from heat, glare, and ultraviolet (UV) light.
GKN Aerospace's military activity is worth over £800m annually and includes providing cutting edge metallic and composite airframe and aero-engine structures, transparencies, fuel and flotation systems and niche capabilities such as ice protection for many platforms - from the A-400M transporter to the V-22 Osprey; the UCLASS unmanned aircraft to Black Hawk and CH-53 K helicopters and the F-35 Lightning.