Lightweight Bullet and Fragment Impact Protection for Mobile Missile Launcher

Rocket motor propellant could react violently when struck by bullets or fragments of exploding weapons. Currently-available armor designs completely prevent threat penetration but are about four times too heavy; their installation on a mobile missile launcher would make the vehicle unable to conduct its mission. The armor design can be made lighter if fragments can penetrate and strike the motor with residual energy low enough to cause only a burning reaction. This least-violent of reaction outcomes would be acceptable for meeting Insensitive Munitions requirements. Safe, Inc. (Safe) developed such a lightweight armor design in Phase I and completed an initial round of tests that showed enough promise to warrant further development. For Phase II, Safe is proposing to refine the design through modeling and simulation, another round of laboratory ballistic testing, and a full scale demonstration. Safe has assembled a team with the necessary skills and experience to successfully complete the proposed work. The commercialization strategy positions the armor technology for ready transition into field service.