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 Other
threats are caused by a combination of kinetic energy and explosion-generated
heat – these are the shaped charges, which are highly
lethal against ballistic armor. Small arms fire from hand guns,
rifles, machine guns or heavier automatic cannons are the most
common kinetic weapons, but fragments and or metal shrapnel
dispersed by mortar bombs small rockets, Improvised
Explosive Devices (IED), dispersing nails, screws or metal
balls at high velocity, over a large area are also effective
and highly lethal kinetic weapons. Heavy explosion blasts also
have a devastating effect on targets, particularly the human
body. More specific weapons designed to affect human targets
include Chemical, Biological or Radiological weapons (CBR).
More recently, directed energy weapons (including laser dazzlers,
and temporary or permanent 'blinding' by laser or application
of high-power microwave beams – all offer new ways to
quietly and effectively incapacitate humans at relatively long
distance.
Other threats are caused by a combination of kinetic energy
and explosion-generated heat – these are the shaped charges,
which are highly lethal against ballistic armor. Small arms
fire from hand guns, rifles, machine guns or heavier automatic
cannons are the most common kinetic weapons, but fragments and
or metal shrapnel dispersed by mortar bombs small rockets, IEDs,
dispersing nails, screws or metal balls at high velocity, over
a large area are also effective and highly lethal kinetic weapons.
Heavy explosion blasts also have a devastating effect on targets,
particularly the human body. More specific weapons designed
to affect human targets include Chemical, Biological or Radiological
weapons (CBR). More recently, directed energy weapons (includi ng
laser dazzlers, and temporary or permanent 'blinding' by laser
or application of high-power microwave beams – all offer
new ways to quietly and effectively incapacitate humans at relatively
long distance.
Explosive devices pose various levels of threats. Originally,
when used as an individual device, IEDs caused limited damage
and could be avoided by careful adherence to operational procedures.
Yet, these procedures are also acting against the military force,
as in many cases, IED are triggered used to "shape the
battle", causing the military unit to respond in a predicted
procedure, where more sophisticated devices are employed, aimed
specifically at certain weak points identified by the insurgents.
Firearms are the #2 cause of casualties among US troops in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Small-arms are employed in firefights
erupting in urban, open terrain combat, or by ambush teams covering
an IED event, as well as by snipers. Most vulnerable are foot
patrols, troops dismounting from their vehicles (for example,
at an area where an IED went off) and exposed warfighters in
armored vehicles. Armor piercing rounds are now common almost
everywhere, augmenting standard 'Full Metal Jacket' (FMJ) rounds
which could be stopped with the most common types of body armor
and vehicle protection. Properly used body armor and helmet
can usually reduce the risk from most kinetic threats, but cannot
guarantee full protection.
Effective vehicular protection against basic small arms threats
is provided by hard steel plates, composites or ceramic armor.
As mentioned above, 7.62mm AP poses a major threat requiring
heavier armor, which can be attained by beefing-up the protective
layers, either by additional elements placed outside the vehicle
(supply boxes, spare wheels, spare tracks etc) or beefing-up
the vehicle's armor with appliqué ceramic tiles, composites
or hard steel plates. The larger, more capable small-and medium-
caliber rounds are associated mainly with higher intensity conflict,
include heavier weapons such as 12.7, 14.5, 23 and 30mm rounds.
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