Lightweight Roadside Blast Protection

One of the greatest threats to American armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is the damage caused by mines, roadside bombs, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The wide variety of device types, and increasing sophistication of these weapons, presents a growing challenge to protecting U.S. warfighters. Currently, personnel vehicles are protected with thick, heavy armor that severely limits maneuverability, and makes transport by sea or airlift much more difficult. In this Phase I effort, Kennon Products, Inc., Auburn University, and the University of Wyoming propose to develop an advanced composite armor system to protect lightweight tactical vehicles from the previously mentioned explosive devices. This armor system will outperform current monolithic structures by at least 30%, and weigh less than 10 lbs/sq ft. It will also be able to address the multiple threats presented by next generation IEDs.