Pultruded Lightweight Integral Rotorcraft Armor

Helicopters aircrews and transported troops are vulnerable to small arms fire and shrapnel. Current helicopter armor imposes severe performance penalties due to its high weight. In most cases, armor system weight limits the ability of designers to provide desired levels of personnel protection. KaZaK's proposes an integral armor solution that is cost effective, thin in profile and compatible with a myriad of environmental threats. It employs a unique composite laminate technology coupled with a novel ceramic arrangement for projectile fragmentation and deflection. KaZaK's solution will meet, and possibly even exceed, Army goals for cost effectiveness and projectile defeat. Our proposed system solution involves placement of armor in two locations. A flexible armor appliqué will be positioned on the interior surface of the helicopter's existing outer skin. In addition, the existing helicopter floor will be replaced with a new KaZaK-designed armored composite sandwich deck. By using convenient and available space between layers of the armor system, the overall weight of the protective system can be reduced. As an additional benefit, we expect the Army will see a significant reduction in repair and maintenance cost associated with puncture and impact damage to the thin skins typical of current helicopter cargo decks.