Vehicle protection suits are designed according to the type of threat they should encounter. Different concepts of protection are utilized when direct fire is the main threat, where the armor suit is tailored to meet the specific threat level. Lighter protection, based on composite materials can also be tailored against fragments from artillery, mortars and shrapnel. Protection against high explosives, especially IEDs which also produce significant blast, fragmentation and sometime shaped charges effect, requires more complex solutions, using designs of metallic and composite components. A different issue is the protection of commercial and civilian vehicles, which, unlike military vehicles, are usually fitted with concealed armor.
Additional parts of this article:
- Lightweight Armor Protection for Combat Vehicles
- Advanced Armor for Future Combat Systems
- Ceramic Armor Materials
- Ceramic & Composite Armor Protection Principles
- Vehicle Armor Protection
For vehicle specific information please check the following references to specific light armored vehicles, which are currently listed in Defense-Update:
AM General M998 / M-1114 Humvee:
Up-Armored designs by:
O’Gara, Zeroline, Labock Intl., Plasan Sasa, Mowag, Battelle
Alvis/Vickers:
MLV, FCLV, SACRAB, RG-31, RG-32M
Mowag:
Eagle
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann:
Dingo, Terrier, Fennek,
Technical Solutions Group (TSG):
Buffalo, Cougar, Typhoon, Tempest
RAFAEL/Hatechof:
Wolf
Israel Aircraft Industries/RAMTA:
RAM-2000
Indian Ordnance Factories:
Mine protected vehicle
Mahindra:
Rakshak
