Ballistic protection for vehicles, i.e. special protection vehicles, is of crucial importance for the safety of occupants during military and official operations, such as police or civil protection. Especially in highly dangerous operational environments, these vehicles are exposed to numerous threats, including firearms, grenades, explosive devices and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In order to effectively counter these threats, the special protection vehicles must be equipped with robust ballistic protection, which is certified in different protection classes.
Ballistic protection can be divided into so-called protection classes. The protection classes of special protection vehicles provide information about the resistance of a vehicle to specific threats. Standards such as STANAG 4569 and EN 1522/1523 categorize the protection of special protection vehicles into different protection classes, which define the level of resistance to different types of ammunition and explosives. These protection classes help when ballistic protection of vehicles needs to be assessed under real combat conditions by evaluating the vehicle's ability to withstand ballistic attacks.
Modern ballistic protection needs modern materials
State-of-the-art materials such as ceramic plates, aramids (e.g. Kevlar) and UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) enable special protection vehicles to achieve the required protection classes without compromising the mobility of the vehicle due to excessive weight. Ballistic protection of vehicles often consists of layered armor that combines multiple materials to both resist the kinetic energy of projectiles and dissipate explosive forces. For example, ceramic plates help to absorb the energy of a projectile, while aramids absorb the remaining energy. This construction method results in effective protection with low weight, which is particularly important for the agility of vehicles in dangerous situations.
The V-shaped design of vehicle floors in mine-resistant vehicles is another design feature that helps to deflect blast waves from explosions and thus increase ballistic protection against mines and booby traps. Here, both effective ballistic protection and the correct protection class play a key role in ensuring that the vehicle is protected against specific quantities or types of explosives.
The classification into protection classes allows the ballistic protection of special protection vehicles to be systematically evaluated and improved. Standardized test procedures are used to check whether a vehicle meets the requirements of a specific protection class. This ensures that special vehicles offer optimum protection in critical operations without compromising mobility or functionality. Ballistic protection for vehicles is therefore a dynamic system that is constantly evolving to respond to new threats.
Special vehicle construction at Norrenbrock Technik is both a pioneer in this field and a competent partner and experienced supplier.
