Abstract: Armor comprises one or more ceramic plates differentially reinforced by reinforcement applied to a face of the plate to separate regions of low reinforcement by regions of higher reinforcement.

Abstract: Armor comprises an array of tiles or pellets confined between at least a pair of sheets, and in which at least one of said at least a pair of sheets is weakened overlying boundaries between adjacent tiles or pellets.

Abstract: Vehicle armor comprises a ceramic panel (1) with a spall covering (6) on a front surface thereof, a rear surface of the ceramic panel being bonded to a stiff support plate (3). A plastically deformable layer (9) is arranged behind the support plate and contiguous therewith. Spacer means define a substantially planar space (14) arranged to be located between the plastically deformable layer (9) and a vehicle hull (13). There may be a frontal plate comprising a ceramic layer (3) bonded between two layers (4, 5) of high strength carbon or glass.

Abstract: Armour for a vehicle comprises ceramic plates (3, 4) with a spall covering (5) on a front surface of the ceramic plate (3), the ceramic plate (4) being bonded at a rear surface thereof to a stiff support plate (2), a plastically deformable layers (9, 10) arranged behind the support plate (2), and spacing means (7) defining a front substantially planar space (11) between the support plate (2) and the plastically deformable layer (9) and a rear substantially planar space (14) arranged to be located between the plastically deformable layer (10) and a vehicle hull (13).

Abstract: An armor panel assembly may comprise a set of bolts for attaching to a vehicle hull, an inner panel demountably attached to the bolts, and at least one outer panel demountably attached to the inner panel. The assembly may include a support panel for attaching the bolts to the hull and may further include brackets for mounting the support panel to the hull. Further, a kit of parts for forming a vehicle armor panel assembly may comprise a set of bolts for attaching to a vehicle hull, an inner panel demountably attachable to the bolts, and at least one outer panel demountably attachable to the inner panel.

Abstract: A garment, such a jacket or pair of pants, affords protection from ballistic impacts. The garment comprises at least two tubular sections of strong fabric, the sections overlapping such that said sections can telescope to allow flexing of a body part enclosed thereby without exposing any part of the body part. A set of protective clothing comprises the ballistic protective garment and an outer garment of heat and blast protective material.

Abstract: A protective vehicle body of non-metallic material comprises an integrally molded base (1) providing a floor and a lower body wall (5), the lower body wall having a lip (6) extending outwardly therefrom; and an upper part (2) providing a roof and an upper body wall, a lower edge of the upper body wall fitting within the lip (6) and being demountably attached to the base (1). The body forms part of a vehicle additionally having a front portion (8) including a front axle and a rear portion (9) including a rear axle, the front and rear portions (8, 9) being attached to the vehicle body by attachment means that are severable from the vehicle body by a blast wave.

Abstract: A protective plate assembly comprises a plurality of overlapping rigid plates (1, 2, 3) for covering a wearer's chest and abdomen, the plates being attached together such that the amount of overlap between successive plates is variable. Elements (13, 16) of compressible material are provided, distributed on an inner side of the assembly, such that when the amount of overlap between the plates (1, 2, 3) increases, the elements move closer together in the direction in which said overlap increases, and vice versa. Two adjacent plates of the assembly are attached to each other by means of a peg (12) extending from one of said plates, which peg is captive within a slot (9) on the other of said plates, the slot running substantially perpendicular to the overlapping edges of the plates.

Abstract: A protective plate assembly comprises a plurality of overlapping rigid plates (1, 2, 3) for covering a wearer's chest and abdomen, the plates being attached together such that the amount of overlap between successive plates is variable. Elements (13, 16) of compressible material are provided, distributed on an inner side of the assembly, such that when the amount of overlap between the plates (1, 2, 3) increases, the elements move closer together in the direction in which said overlap increases, and vice versa. Two adjacent plates of the assembly are attached to each other by means of a peg (12) extending from one of said plates, which peg is captive within a slot (9) on the other of said plates, the slot running substantially perpendicular to the overlapping edges of the plates.

Abstract: Armor for a vehicle comprises a grid of bars, at least the majority of the bars being formed from carbon fiber. The carbon fiber bars may be pultruded and some of the bars may be metallic.

Abstract: A garment, such a jacket or pair of pants, affords protection from ballistic impacts. The garment comprises at least two tubular sections of strong fabric, the sections overlapping such that said sections can telescope to allow flexing of a body part enclosed thereby without exposing any part of the body part. A set of protective clothing comprises the ballistic protective garment and an outer garment of heat and blast protective material.

Abstract: A protective plate assembly comprises a plurality of overlapping rigid plates (1, 2, 3) for covering a wearer's chest and abdomen, the plates being attached together such that the amount of overlap between successive plates is variable. Elements (13, 16) of compressible material are provided, distributed on an inner side of the assembly, such that when the amount of overlap between the plates (1, 2, 3) increases, the elements move closer together in the direction in which said overlap increases, and vice versa. Two adjacent plates of the assembly are attached to each other by means of a peg (12) extending from one of said plates, which peg is captive within a slot (9) on the other of said plates, the slot running substantially perpendicular to the overlapping edges of the plates.

Abstract: A method of making a helmet comprises the steps of cutting a plurality of substantially rectangular, preferably square, blanks from a sheet of resin-impregnated fabric, making curved cuts (1) in each blank to form a crown portion (5) and lobe portions (3) therefrom, arranging a stack of said sheets into a helmet preform such that the lobe portions of any blank partially overlap adjacent lobe portions of the same blank, and molding the helmet from the preform.

Abstract: A protective plate assembly comprises a plurality of overlapping rigid plates (1, 2, 3) for covering a wearer's chest and abdomen, the plates being attached together such that the amount of overlap between successive plates is variable. Elements (13, 16) of compressible material are provided, distributed on an inner side of the assembly, such that when the amount of overlap between the plates (1, 2, 3) increases, the elements move closer together in the direction in which said overlap increases, and vice versa. Two adjacent plates of the assembly are attached to each other by means of a peg (12) extending from one of said plates, which peg is captive within a slot (9) on the other of said plates, the slot running substantially perpendicular to the overlapping edges of the plates.