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 Various
types of appliqué armor were displayed at AUSA 2006,
used for enhancement of armor protection of soft and armored
vehicles. Among the systems displayed was the LAST
armor system developed by Foster Miller. LAST uses a unique
hook-and-loop fasteners similar to the Velcro, but five times
stronger, enabling rapid application, removal and replacement
of external (ceramic) armor tiles and external (spall liners)
armor.
A different type of protective material was introduced by
Boeing. The company displayed a new range of lightweight composite
based materials acquired as part of the recent acquisition of
Macro Industries Inc. The new armor uses aramid fibers, specially
weaved to form a lightweight structure that is thinner and weighs
less than comparable panels made of Kevlar. The basic structure
effectively protects against 0.5 Caliber Ammunition and can
be upgraded to defeat even 14.5mm rounds.
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 A
range of advanced armor materials was displayed by General Dynamics
Armament & Technical Products (ATP) and GD Land Systems
divisions. GD-ATP has recently expanded its ass-on reactive
armor protection offering beyond the Bradley, for which it relied
on the reactive
armor kits produced by RAFAEL. GD is now supplying reactive
armor suites for the US Army Stryker
and M-1A2 Abrams tanks.
GDLS has also displayed advanced armor concepts, including the
composite/ceramic LIBA
matrix known as Surmax, providing appliqué frontal protection
for the U.S. Army Stryker vehicles.
Other armor designs utilize aluminum sheet formed honeycomb,
embedded with Silicon Carbide pellets, creating a lightweight
armor capable of defeating multiple hits of high speed (APFSDS)
25mm armor-piercing ammunition fired at short range.  Other
lightweight armor materials displayed were Titanium carbide
and Boron carbide ceramic
modules. A different concept demonstrated a composite armor
element embedded with electronic circuits forming antennas for
communications and sensor applications.
A new type of Electro-Magnetic
Armor (EMA) is under development by SAIC. This system incorporates
modules of layered conductive plates applied to the vehicle's
surface. Conducting plates within the modules are charged to
high voltage, and, as a shaped charge jet passes through the
electrified area between the conducting plates, it draws a large
current from a capacitor bank, dispersing before it hits the
vehicle's surface. To maintain the armor fully charged at all
time, EMA systems will require using high energy density components
and advanced energy storage technologies. SAIC has already tested
EMA on combat vehicles, against multiple, live fire threats.
EMA is proposed for both future combat vehicles, equipped with
hybrid electric power systems and as an upgrade for current
platforms.
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