Extract from DSTL research contract into lightweight
ballistics by Shaun Ward Founder of VestGuard UK base in Essex UK
Extract from DSTL research contract into lightweight ballistics
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The project carried out by VestGuard UK Ltd on behalf of the MOD and DSTL focuses on the development of lightweight ballistic plates, concentrating on novel design in terms of material usage and fabrication techniques. Therefore the aim was to produce a personal ballistic plate with a 30% weight reduction over the current fielded solution, as well as providing improved multi-hit performance.
The following report represents an overview of the project from start to finish, and aims to give the reader an understanding of the key decisions made and concepts explored in pursuit of the desired weight reduction and multi-hit performance for personal hard armour.
This constituted researching and building upon current ballistic knowledge, using innovative processing in order to improve a previous high performance off-the-shelf product to give increased protection at a reduced weight. As a result, prototypes based on this knowledge were produced, ballistic tested, analysed, improved and retested to create a design which met specification. Put simply, a commercial innovation by VestGuard UK Ltd with regards to the construction of ballistic plates was exploited and improved to meet the needs of the MOD.
Several designs for the said lightweight ballistic plates have been produced in short prototype production runs for performance cataloguing by DSTL in an ultimate bid to reduce the burden on the dismounted soldier by 30%.
The result of this research and development cycle is the design of three ballistic plates that meet the desired specifications in terms of bulk, weight and ballistic performance, with a 30% reduction in weight from current solutions as well as reduction in bulk whilst maintaining ballistic performance against notorious armour piercing incendiary rounds. A standard lightweight off-the-shelf solution has been supplied for comparison purposes.
This performance increase has been created by the use of autoclave processing, mosaic-tiled ceramic and blue fibre encapsulation in order to achieve ceramic performance previously unseen and multi-hit capabilities unparalleled in current body armour solutions.
Conclusions are that the novel autoclave processing technique increases ceramic performance, allowing for thinner, lighter ceramics to be used at higher threat levels. Tiled solutions, often ubiquitous in vehicle armour design have been transitioned to high performance ballistic plates without any increase in weight or reduction in performance. The solution has other benefits, namely the size of the plate will not reduce performance, a phenomenon related to monolithic plates, and as such side armour plates will see a higher weight reduction.
Chief among the benefits is the reduction in burden for the dismounted soldier, a desirable feature whose full benefit does not need to be explained. The conscious decision to utilise mass-produced materials, and well-known manufacturing techniques, makes the technology directly exploitable from a production standpoint in the immediate future.
The bulk of the report is aimed at the technical achievements within the project, however, for the lay reader, several sections relate directly to the perceived enhancement over current technology as well as other potential applications for the processing technology, principally is the application to vehicle armour.
For further information contact 01621 816614
ballistics by Shaun Ward Founder of VestGuard UK base in Essex UK
Extract from DSTL research contract into lightweight ballistics
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The project carried out by VestGuard UK Ltd on behalf of the MOD and DSTL focuses on the development of lightweight ballistic plates, concentrating on novel design in terms of material usage and fabrication techniques. Therefore the aim was to produce a personal ballistic plate with a 30% weight reduction over the current fielded solution, as well as providing improved multi-hit performance.
The following report represents an overview of the project from start to finish, and aims to give the reader an understanding of the key decisions made and concepts explored in pursuit of the desired weight reduction and multi-hit performance for personal hard armour.
This constituted researching and building upon current ballistic knowledge, using innovative processing in order to improve a previous high performance off-the-shelf product to give increased protection at a reduced weight. As a result, prototypes based on this knowledge were produced, ballistic tested, analysed, improved and retested to create a design which met specification. Put simply, a commercial innovation by VestGuard UK Ltd with regards to the construction of ballistic plates was exploited and improved to meet the needs of the MOD.
Several designs for the said lightweight ballistic plates have been produced in short prototype production runs for performance cataloguing by DSTL in an ultimate bid to reduce the burden on the dismounted soldier by 30%.
The result of this research and development cycle is the design of three ballistic plates that meet the desired specifications in terms of bulk, weight and ballistic performance, with a 30% reduction in weight from current solutions as well as reduction in bulk whilst maintaining ballistic performance against notorious armour piercing incendiary rounds. A standard lightweight off-the-shelf solution has been supplied for comparison purposes.
This performance increase has been created by the use of autoclave processing, mosaic-tiled ceramic and blue fibre encapsulation in order to achieve ceramic performance previously unseen and multi-hit capabilities unparalleled in current body armour solutions.
Conclusions are that the novel autoclave processing technique increases ceramic performance, allowing for thinner, lighter ceramics to be used at higher threat levels. Tiled solutions, often ubiquitous in vehicle armour design have been transitioned to high performance ballistic plates without any increase in weight or reduction in performance. The solution has other benefits, namely the size of the plate will not reduce performance, a phenomenon related to monolithic plates, and as such side armour plates will see a higher weight reduction.
Chief among the benefits is the reduction in burden for the dismounted soldier, a desirable feature whose full benefit does not need to be explained. The conscious decision to utilise mass-produced materials, and well-known manufacturing techniques, makes the technology directly exploitable from a production standpoint in the immediate future.
The bulk of the report is aimed at the technical achievements within the project, however, for the lay reader, several sections relate directly to the perceived enhancement over current technology as well as other potential applications for the processing technology, principally is the application to vehicle armour.
For further information contact 01621 816614