Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Abstract: Reactive armor that includes a casing having a plurality of walls, a back, and a cavity formed therebetween; a cover that closes the cavity and forms a strike face; a filler placed within the cavity, the filler comprising a disruptive material; and an explosive. To defeat projectile or projectile related threats, the reactive armor substantially, but not necessarily wholly, implements laterally oriented force mechanisms, erosion mechanisms, and bulking mechanisms, e.g., explosive forces, with respect to the strike face.

Abstract: Reactive armor that includes a casing having a plurality of walls, a back, and a cavity formed therebetween; a cover that closes the cavity and forms a strike face; a filler placed within the cavity, the filler comprising a disruptive material; and an explosive. To defeat projectile or projectile related threats, the reactive armor substantially, but not necessarily wholly, implements laterally oriented force mechanisms, erosion mechanisms, and bulking mechanisms, e.g., explosive forces, with respect to the strike face.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A system for mitigating the effects of an unexpected explosion against a surface is described and claimed. This invention comprises at least one containment vessel containing explosive material fitted with a detonator; and at least one sensing device that can ignite the detonator; or, in another embodiment, a computer interposed between sensing devices and a plurality of detonators to optimize the response. Because transient voltages from a high-voltage firing system can accidentally ignite the detonators, a safety switch driven by an EBW detonator is interposed between the firing system and the counter-explosive devices. The explosive force generated by the current invention attenuates the shockwave and deflects the shrapnel from the unexpected explosion. In various embodiments, this counter-explosive device can be adapted to protect a multiplicity of surface types including exterior vehicle surfaces, building facades, bridges, embassies and military checkpoints and guard stations.

Abstract: A resource is protected by an armor structure comprising a magnetic field such that the magnetic field will interfere with a warhead blast to weaken the blast. In particular, magnetic field will interfere with a molten metal jet from a shaped charge to disperse the jet, allowing subsequent layers of armor to absorb the jet energy without penetration. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is produced by a layer of magnetic material magnetized with the field lines perpendicular to the primary threat direction and typically parallel to the surface of the area to be protected. The magnetic material layer may include ferromagnetic (iron or steel, or other) layers to strengthen and contain the magnetic field, protect the magnetic material and act as additional armor layers. The magnetic layer is typically used in conjunction with an inner shield armor layer to absorb the diffused jet after passing through the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A structure or vehicle protection method including a removable frame on the structure or vehicle, and a net within the frame and spaced from the structure or vehicle and having a mesh size designed to disarm an incoming threat.

Abstract: An armor system for defeating rocket propelled grenade-type missiles and/or high velocity jets created by shaped charges directed at a vehicle includes a grid layer such as a net and/or an array of slats or bars (“RPG”) spaced from an outer surface of the vehicle by support members. The grid layer has a characteristic mesh size or bar/slat spacing to disrupt the missile firing mechanism. The system also has a shaped layer having a plurality of tapered members formed from a fiber-reinforced material, the tapered members positioned between the grid layer and the vehicle outer surface and having respective apex ends proximate the distant the grid layer and base ends, the tapered members defining with adjacent tapered members a plurality of depressions opening in a direction to receive an incoming conical portion of an unexploded RPG-type missile, or a jet emanating from an exploded RPG or other anti-armor device, and a layer of fiber-reinforced material abutting the base ends of the tapered members.

Abstract: An explosive round countermeasure system incorporates a plurality of linear shaped charges with standoffs for holding the linear shaped charges in parallel spaced relation distal from the structure to be protected, each shaped charge creating a substantially planar jet when detonated. Means for sensing an incoming explosive round having a nose mounted fuse structure is provided and means for detonating at least one of the charges in the array responsive to the sensing means such that the detonation is timed for placement of the fuse structure adjacent the at least one charge.

Abstract: A reactive armor that may include multiple layers. The reactive armor may include a self-healing outer layer, a ceramic tile layer and a backing layer. The ceramic tile layer may include a plurality of ceramic tiles and explosive material. The ceramic tiles may be hexagonal. The ceramic tiles may each define a hollow space in which the explosive material is deposited. The reactive armor may be combined with non-reactive armor.

Abstract: A reactive armor that may include multiple layers. The reactive armor may include a self-healing outer layer, a ceramic tile layer and a backing layer. The ceramic tile layer may include a plurality of ceramic tiles and explosive material. The ceramic tiles may be hexagonal. The ceramic tiles may each define a hollow space in which the explosive material is deposited. The reactive armor may be combined with non-reactive armor.

Abstract: A system providing a physical-barrier defense against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) that is suitable for use on aircraft, ground vehicles and ships. The system includes a propulsion device (for example, a rocket) and a barrier that is attached to the propulsion device by one or more tethers. The barrier includes an inflatable frame. When the propulsion device is launched, an inflator inflates the frame to assume an open state, and the propulsion device pulls the tether and the barrier along a trajectory for intercepting an RPG.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides transparent reactive armor systems that are far lighter than conventional reactive armor systems due to the materials used therein. The reactive armor of embodiments of the present invention is composed of at least three layers. These layers are—from the outside to the inside—the front plate, the explosives layer and the explosives substrate as well as optional further inside layers with antiballistic effects. Consequently, the explosives substrate can be part of a multilayer laminate.

Abstract: A contained volume of particulate materials that is optimized for eroding ballistic penetrator, explosively formed penetrators, shaped charges, ballistic fragments, and other ballistic threats. The particulate materials include crushed garnet, crushed ceramics and sand. The volume of particulate materials may be mixed with explosive rods or pills. These explosive rods or pills ignite when the ballistic threat reaches a preset area within the armor box. Particulate material and armor boxes can consist of configurations using ballistic balls and irregular shaped stones or gravel. Alternate embodiments may contain configurations utilizing ballistic rods, electronic timing devices, and explosive detonators.

Abstract: A contained volume of particulate materials that is optimized for eroding ballistic penetrator, explosively formed penetrators, shaped charges, ballistic fragments, and other ballistic threats. The particulate materials include crushed garnet, crushed ceramics and sand. The volume of particulate materials may be mixed with explosive rods or pills. These explosive rods or pills ignite when the ballistic threat reaches a preset area within the armor box. Particulate material and armor boxes can consist of configurations using ballistic balls and irregular shaped stones or gravel. Alternate embodiments may contain configurations utilizing ballistic rods, electronic timing devices, and explosive detonators.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: A method of providing a defense against a shaped charge uses an outer and an inner armor layer provided with a medial space between these outer and inner armor layers. One or more defensive shaped charges are positioned in the medial space. If the outer armor layer is attacked by ordnance having an offensive shaped charge, one or more of the defensive shaped charges positioned in the medial space is detonated so as to degrade the effectiveness of the offensive shaped charge and prevent penetration of the inner armor layer.

Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Abstract: The invention describes and claims an apparatus and method of missile interception. The missile interceptor comprises a net body with a plurality of sections and at least one missile trajectory effector. In the preferred variant, the missile trajectory effector is embodied as an exploding ring. A missile, passing through the net body, picks up a ring, which explodes once the missile passes a sufficient distance away from the missile interceptor. Preferred embodiments of the missile interceptor further comprise one or more vertically-positioned poles. Claimed method involves the use of such interceptor and positioning the interceptor on the likely trajectory of incoming missiles.

Abstract: A countermeasure system which is capable of defusing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) is provided by spacing an array of explosive charges or primacord from the protected structure to allow and sense an ogive of the fused RPG to enter into a functional plane of the array initiating one or more of the charges to collapse to ogive. The array is supported flexibly or rigidly and further ballistic protection is incorporated behind the array in fixed or inflatable forms to provide protection of the structure from the explosive products from the array and the ballistic impact of the defused RPG.

Abstract: A structure or vehicle protection system including a removable frame on the structure or vehicle, and a net within the frame and spaced from the structure or vehicle and having a mesh size designed to disarm an incoming threat.

Abstract: A system providing a physical-barrier defense against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). The system is suitable for use on aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships.

Abstract: A structure is disclosed to protect explosive ordnance. The structure comprises an inner ceramic layer. A polyurethane layer encompassing the inner ceramic layer. A third layer is a stainless steel layer encompassing the polyurethane layer with a second polyurethane layer wrapping around the stainless steel layer. A fifth layer is an outer ceramic layer. A sixth layer through tenth layer comprises interconnected aramid fiber fabric (i.e., KEVLAR) impregnated with polyurethane. The structure may be part of an explosive handling system to include a shipping container that decelerates projectiles approaching the explosive device. The container comprises fifteen additional layers to encompass the structure. The first layer is steel encompassing the structure with a second layer through fifteenth layer of the container each being KEVLAR impregnated with polyurethane. Both the composite structure and the shipping container can be made from commercially available products.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A reactive armor module for protecting a target from an incoming projectile, and comprising at least one armor cassette formed of a front base plate and a rear base plate sandwiching between them at least one layer of energetic material, the front base plate and the rear base plate being adapted, upon impact of the projectile with the energetic material, to be propelled in opposite directions; the armor module further comprising at least one non-energetic auxiliary plate spaced from the armor cassette and positioned essentially along the expected trajectory of either the front or the rear base plate, such that when propelled, the velocity of a base plate facing the auxiliary plate is reduced upon collision with the auxiliary plate.

Abstract: A method of providing a defense against a shaped charge. An outer and an inner armor layer are provided with a medial space between these outer and inner armor layers. One or more defensive shaped charges are positioned in the medial space. If the outer armor layer is attacked by ordnance having an offensive shaped charge, one or more of the defensive shaped charges positioned in the medial space is detonated so as to degrade the effectiveness of the offensive shaped charge and prevent penetration of the inner armor layer.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for protecting an object from shaped charge jets comprising an electrode arrangement which is provided with at least one electrode facing the object and one electrode facing away from the object between which an electrical voltage can be applied. The invention is distinguished by the object-facing electrode having at least one area with a spatially heterogeneous electrode material.

Abstract: Provided is an RPG disruption system (RDS) for protecting an enclosure against RPG's, the system including a casing fixed in close proximity to a wall of the enclosure facing an anticipated RPG threat. The casing includes an anvil accommodating a propelling mechanism for propelling the disrupting element, and an activating system for activating the propelling mechanism so as to propel the disrupting element towards an approaching RPG, to thereby neutralize it.

Abstract: A projector of multiple skewed light planes or sheets is located adjacent a vehicle to be protected and detectors are arranged to detect the penetration of the light sheets by an incoming object, with the time intervals between the piercing of the planes defining the path of the incoming object and its expected impact time. An array of bullet-firing barrels is arranged to project bullets in an iron curtain under control of a fire control module that fires a round in a barrel above the projected flight path such that the round impacts the nose of the object and disables it. It is thus the piercing of the skewed light sheets that provides information as to the impact point of the object as well as its time of arrival so that a round can be fired to intercept the object as it arrives at the iron curtain.

Abstract: A countermeasure system which is capable of defusing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) is provided by spacing an array of explosive charges or primacord from the protected structure to allow and sense an ogive of the fused RPG to enter into a functional plane of the array initiating one or more of the charges to collapse to ogive. The array is supported flexibly or rigidly and further ballistic protection is incorporated behind the array in fixed or inflatable forms to provide protection of the structure from the explosive products from the array and the ballistic impact of the defused RPG.

Abstract: According to typical inventive practice, an armor structure includes n?1 highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layers and n+1?2 metallic layers, alternately configured. Each metallic layer is electrically connected to a power supply that includes, e.g., battery(ies) and/or supercapacitor(s). Each adjacent pair of metallic layers sandwiches a highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer and forms, with the power supply, an uncompleted electrical circuit. A high-velocity projectile that penetratively encroaches upon a highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer is subjected to electrical current by virtue of completion of the uncompleted circuit that includes the two sandwiching metallic layers. The circuit is completed by physical (and hence, electrical) contact, bridging the two sandwiching metallic layers, of the projectile and/or its plasma sheath (which at least partially surrounds the projectile's outside surface due to friction between the projectile and the highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for antimissile protection of vehicles having a very short response time with practically no false alarms and not requiring the use of means such as decoys or conventional laser jammers, while providing the best possible protection. It is characterized in that at least one curtain of plasma filaments is created between these vehicles and the probable launch point of these missiles, this curtain being intended to blind the target-seeking device of the missiles.

Abstract: Armor systems for protecting against various threats, including projectiles and explosive devices. An armor system includes one or more ballistic panels, one or more wire mesh layers and a backing on a side of the armor system facing away from potential threats that helps to absorb force impacting on the first ballistic panel. The first ballistic panel includes a core that provides strength and rigidity for the first ballistic panel and that distributes and dissipates force impacting on the first ballistic panel, a grinding layer comprising grinding media situated within and positioned on at least one side of the core facing towards potential threats, and a bonding layer that encapsulates the grinding layer. The one or more wire mesh layers contain the ballistic panel, increasing the durability and re-usability of the ballistic panel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Abstract: A protection system features a flexible packaged net with perimeter weighting housed in a deployment box releasably attached to a vehicle. One deployment subsystem includes an airbag packaged in the deployment box behind the net. A sensor subsystem detects an incoming threat and a fire control subsystem is responsive to the sensor subsystem and is configured to activate the deployment subsystem to inflate the airbag and deploy the net in the trajectory path of the incoming threat.

Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Abstract: Armor systems for protecting against various threats, including projectiles and explosive devices. An armor system includes one or more ballistic panels, one or more wire mesh layers and a backing on a side of the armor system facing away from potential threats that helps to absorb force impacting on the first ballistic panel. The first ballistic panel includes a core that provides strength and rigidity for the first ballistic panel and that distributes and dissipates force impacting on the first ballistic panel, a grinding layer comprising grinding media situated within and positioned on at least one side of the core facing towards potential threats, and a bonding layer that encapsulates the grinding layer. The one or more wire mesh layers contain the ballistic panel, increasing the durability and re-usability of the ballistic panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle equipped with seats and/or equipment for use in areas in which the detonation of mines or the like are feared, wherein walls, floor and ceiling are provided with an arrangement that can withdraw energy from the blast wave of a detonation by deformation, and the floor is suspended only through ropes, rods or chains with separable connections. At least one pressure sensor and/or acceleration sensor is provided, which reacts to a blast wave, outputs a signal and ignites explosive charges thereby. The explosive charges (11) are arranged at the separable connections (8) and these are broken before the blast wave of a detonation has reached the floor (10).

Abstract: A countermeasure system which is capable of defusing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) is provided by spacing an array of explosive charges or primacord from the protected structure to allow and sense an ogive of the fused RPG to enter into a functional plane of the array initiating one or more of the charges to collapse to ogive. The array is supported flexibly or rigidly and further ballistic protection is incorporated behind the array in fixed or inflatable forms to provide protection of the structure from the explosive products from the array and the ballistic impact of the defused RPG.

Abstract: A separable structure includes composite material that is separated or severed by a reactive pyrotechnic material. According to one embodiment, the structure includes a pair of composite laminate structural portions, each including multiple layers of composite material. The portions each extend into an overlap region, within which the composite layers of the two structural portions may be alternately placed, overlapping one another. A reactive material is also placed within this overlap region, for instance being in layers between pairs of the composite material layers. The reactive material may be ignited to cause destruction of the pyrotechnic material, and a matrix or resin material of the composite materials layers in the overlap region. This causes the structure to sever or separate along a line of separation within the overlap region. The separation may occur without need to sever fibers of the composite material.

Abstract: An improvement in an electric armor system designed to prevent, among other things, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from penetrating the hull of a fighting vehicle. The system includes a self-clearing electrode that will make the system less vulnerable to non-plasma objects that might otherwise short out the active armor electrodes. It optionally further allows for the early initiation of current flow at the point of penetration making it even easier to defeat incoming threats by allowing more time to break-up an incoming plasma jet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: An armor module having a rigid casing having a front face, a top face and a bottom face, and a plurality of multi-layer planner cassettes fixedly mounted within the casing. Each cassette has a top base plate and a bottom base plate, sandwiching between them at least a one other layer. The top base plate of an uppermost cassette constitutes the top face of the casing, and a bottom base plate of a lowermost cassette constitutes the bottom face of the casing.

Abstract: A resource is protected by an armor structure comprising a magnetic field such that the magnetic field will interfere with a warhead blast to weaken the blast. In particular, magnetic field will interfere with a molten metal jet from a shaped charge to disperse the jet, allowing subsequent layers of armor to absorb the jet energy without penetration. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is produced by a layer of magnetic material magnetized with the field lines perpendicular to the primary threat direction and typically parallel to the surface of the area to be protected. The magnetic material layer may include ferromagnetic (iron or steel, or other) layers to strengthen and contain the magnetic field, protect the magnetic material and act as additional armor layers. The magnetic layer is typically used in conjunction with an inner shield armor layer to absorb the diffused jet after passing through the magnetic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of structures such as terrestrial buildings, vehicles or else ships, against attacks operated by means of hollow charges. It applies in particular to the protection of armoured vehicles. The subject of the invention is a module for embodying a lightweight and mobile reactive armour comprising at least one electrically conducting external wall and one electrically conducting internal wall and forming two electrodes between which is applied a very high voltage, the said walls defining an inter-electrode space, as well as an electrically conducting internal tridimensional mechanical structure, of low density, in electrical contact with the internal wall. The module according to the invention is intended to be placed between the object to be protected and the hollow charge, the internal tridimensional mechanical structure being positioned between the electrodes and the object to be protected.

Abstract: An electricity generating device for use in an armor arrangement, and to an armor arrangement. The armor arrangement includes two inert reactive armor modules arranged one behind the other, which each include a plate made of inert material, interposed between steel plates. Sheet-shaped members are mounted or baked onto the inert material. The sheet-shaped members are provided with a number of mutually separate regions in which, or next to which, there are disposed elements which convert mechanical vibrations or shock waves in the inert material into electrical voltage. The elements can include crystals or piezoelectric layers. The ammunition part or ammunition effect which penetrates the inert reactive armor modules and which generates the mechanical vibrations or shock waves provokes in one or more elements the generation of a voltage which can be used to initiate counteragents against the penetration.

Abstract: An embodiment of a protection system for an object includes first and second sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The sensors are mountable to a side of the object a predetermined distance apart, and each sensor is operable to detect a respective angle between the sensor and a location from which a projectile is fired toward the side. The processor is operable to determine from the detected angles whether the firing location is aligned with the object. If the firing location is aligned with the object, then the processor is operable to calculate from the detected angles and the predetermined distance a time window during which the processor estimates that the projectile will strike the object, and is operable to cause a protection unit to defend against the projectile for the duration of the time window. Such a protection system may be less expensive to acquire, install, or operate than prior protection systems, and may expand defenses more efficiently than prior protection systems.