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TenCate and US Army RDECOM enter multi-year CRADA agreement

TenCate Advanced Armour USA and the US Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) have signed a multi-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system for improved soldier protection. This collaboration will allow TenCate engineers to demonstrate the ability of the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system to protect combat and tactical ground vehicle crews from the effects of insurgent mines, roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IED's).

14th September 2013

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Almelo

Transport/​Aerospace, Industrial, Protective

TenCate Advanced Armour USA and the US Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) have signed a multi-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system for improved soldier protection.

This collaboration will allow TenCate engineers to demonstrate the ability of the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system to protect combat and tactical ground vehicle crews from the effects of insurgent mines, roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IED's).

RDECOM's evaluation process is to ensure that the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system solutions are robust in design and performance and ready for real world military applications. "The US Army has a clear vision on the protection of mounted troops and TenCate has developed important lifesaving technologies," commented Mark Edwards, President of TenCate Advanced Armour USA.

Lifesaving technology

The US Army is focused on exploring and identifying ways to prevent, identify and defeat IEDs objective. For example, TARDEC's (US Army Tank and Automotive Research and Development Center) 'Occupant Centric' soldier protection programme seeks to identify, develop, and integrate technologies that will protect ground vehicle crews from underbody threats, crashes and rollovers.

The TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system can save lives and significantly reduce mission compromising injury by minimising the transfer of mine blast energy witnessed by a crew, TenCate reports. The system is said to manage the launch acceleration of the vehicle, its flight and the ensuing fall back to earth.

This CRADA is a mechanism to utilise the vast capabilities and expertise of RDECOM's various engineering centres with an integrated approach to testing and developing the system's features, speeding its maturation and certifying its technology readiness level for future use on military platforms.

Scalable on wide range of platforms

The TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system, developed by TenCate Advanced Armour USA, has demonstrated measurable improvements in occupant survivability, according to the company.

Third party tests said to illustrate that decreased energy absorption, lower vehicle jump height, and modest 'fall back' can reduce injuries, shorten recovery times, and improve mission effectiveness.

The TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system offers weight, space and cost efficiencies and can be retrofit onto wide range of new or fielded platforms. In addition, it is also said to be uniquely scalable to adapt to evolving threats.

www.tencate.com

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