ShieldAll armor system, developed by Battelle and produced by PVI is an advanced material system using customized composites and materials including metals, ceramics, reinforcing and patented binders. The armor can be tailored to meet specific threats and is designed as modular system, for ease of installation, repair, replacement, and modification. In a relatively lightweight and compact application this armor offers effective protection against a wide range of threats while being 1/3 lighter than steel armor. This armor provides EFP protection which standard steel armor does not offer. The new armor recently completed a series of testing where it demonstrated its resilience against IED effects.
At less than 37 percent the weight of steel armor, the Battelle material alone is capable of stopping multiple armor piercing projectiles exceeding a 7.62mm threat as a stand-alone component. When combined with Protected Vehicles, Inc. armoring methodologies, the complete system is capable of stopping threats from 50-caliber armor-piercing shells without the weight associated with conventional metal or ceramic armor.
Based on advanced materials development program at Battelle, PVI and Battelle joined forces to create a composite armor encompassing ceramics, metals, reinforcing and patented binders that provide exceptional protection against threats from powerful EFP explosions.
One of the elements composing the new ShieldAll is Battelle’s FlexAll™ hyperplastic material which can absorb high energy impacts without permanent deformation. A FlexAll module will crumple on impact to absorb an incoming force but return to its original shape within minutes. During a series of tests, race cars were driven into honeycomb-like columns mad of FlexAll material, at speeds up to 60 mph. The energy-absorbing structure behaved identically crash after crash, absorbing 92 percent of an impact’s energy each time.
According to PVI, this new armor solution is based on readily available components and ongoing involvement from a tier one polymer manufacturer. ShieldAll™ is available immediately for large-scale production ramp up.
Although originally developed for use on PVI’s Golan, Alpha and Protector line of vehicles, ShieldAll utilizes a versatile design which allows it to be used as an up-armor kit on an assortment of other combat vehicles currently being developed and already in the operating theater.
In addition, Battelle considered personal armor applications for the new material, giving soldiers in the field more mobility while allowing equal or better protection to current body armor.
