TenCate Advanced Armor USA and the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) yesterday said they have signed a multi-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate the TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system for improved soldier protection.
This collaboration will allow TenCate engineers to demonstrate the ability of the TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system to protect combat and tactical ground vehicle crews from the devastating effects of insurgent mines, roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
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| Image: Tencate Advanced Armor USA |
The RDECOM evaluation process is to ensure the TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system solutions are robust in design and performance and ready for real world military applications.
The TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system can minimize the transfer of mine blast energy on the crew, potentially preventing injury that could disrupt a mission, and save lives.
The system efficiently manages the launch acceleration of the vehicle, its flight and the ensuing fall back to earth.
This CRADA is a mechanism to use the vast capabilities and expertise of RDECOM’s various engineering centers with an integrated approach to testing and developing the system’s features, speeding its maturation and certifying its technology readiness level (TRL) for future use on military platforms.
“The U.S. Army has a clear vision on the protection of mounted troops and TenCate has developed important lifesaving technologies,” said Mark Edwards, president of TenCate Advanced Armor USA. “We are committed to this world class ‘soldier survivability’ program and determined to meet or exceed every mil-spec requirement necessary to quickly, yet safely, provide this threat protection solution to our troops.”
The TenCate active blast countermeasure system, developed by specialists within TenCate Advanced Armor USA, has demonstrated measurable improvements in occupant survivability.
Third party tests illustrate that decreased energy absorption, lower vehicle jump height, and modest “fall back” can reduce injuries, shorten recovery times, and improve mission effectiveness. The system offers weight, space and cost efficiencies and can be retrofit onto wide range of new or fielded platforms. In addition, it is uniquely scalable to adapt to evolving threats.
TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system is the world’s first practical active underbody blast threat protection system and it is ready for platform evaluations today, the company said in a statement.