New Generation Armor: Russia Creates Lightweight Fragment Protection for Vehicles

Panels made of thermopressed ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene developed by "NII Stali" withstood two drone impacts

JSC "NII Stali", part of the Kalashnikov concern, has created anti-fragment protective panels for unarmored vehicles. The solution is aimed at vehicles with increased operational risk, including transport for volunteer and medical services.

The panel design is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) using thermopressing. According to the developer, the technology is based on developments in the field of composite protection and body armor.

The key advantage of the material is its low weight while maintaining protective properties, which minimizes the load on the vehicle. Depending on the customer's task, panels of various thicknesses and configurations can be used. The relative technological simplicity of installation and more affordable cost compared to steel counterparts are also noted.

According to a representative of the developer, the products demonstrate resistance to damaging elements typical of small-sized unmanned aerial vehicles. In field conditions, the protection system installed on a UAZ vehicle ensured the safety of passengers when exposed to two attack drones.

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