Lightweight Bullet and Fragment Impact Protection for Mobile Missile Launcher

Missile launcher armor is needed to protect propellants from unintended ignition when struck by ballistic projectiles and fragments. Allowing fragments to penetrate the armor at low speed limits the chance of ignition while lightening the armor. The closely-spaced shot pattern and thickness and weight limits still make a significant design challenge. Safe has selected materials suitable for the threat, which are the highest-performing ballistic materials that can be commercialized in the ground vehicle market. The approach eschews simulation and moves directly to testing to demonstrate feasibility. Tests are framed within a Design of Experiments approach that develops a design equation from test data on coupons built at potential design points, to assure that the lightest possible design is found that meets all requirements. The project team includes engineers with extensive experience designing and producing armor. The commercialization plan relies on the relatively low cost of the materials to foster widespread market penetration, and includes a potential strategic partner for high rate manufacturing or surge demand. The combination of a statistically based design approach, thoughtful material selection, experienced team, and solid commercialization plan assure the best possible chance to solve this problem and commercialize the resulting product.