TenCate Armour Defeats EFP Threat
12 March 2009
TenCate Advanced Armour has revealed that it has developed and successfully tested a new passive armour system that will defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) of the explosive formed projectile (EFP) type. These have become the number one threat in a number of areas, especially Iraq and Afghanistan, and have resulted in the loss of a number of armoured vehicles together with their crews.
The new TenCate product is a lightweight composite armour made with TenCate Armourtex BM material, which, according to the company, minimises additional weight to the vehicle. In fact, its solution to counter the EFP threat is claimed to be half the weight of traditional rolled homogenous armour (RHA) used in many vehicles.
During a recent demonstration, a test example of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) hull protected by TenCate Armourtex BM armour stopped the EFP, and the hull only had a slight indent. In comparison, a test example of an APC hull protected with traditional ceramic armour (STANAG 4569 Level 4) was perforated by the EFP, and it also penetrated the spall liner.
Development of the armour is now complete and production can commence when orders are placed.
