TenCate Advanced Armor USA has presented its TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system, designed to reduce casualties and injuries to troops riding in vehicles that are hit by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), at the AUSA Conference that took place from 21-23 October, in Washington.

Third party tests confirm that the TenCate ABDS active blast countermeasure system can mitigate the deadly impulse energy effects of an IED blast. Crew survivability is improved because the system minimises the brutal launch into the air, the violent flight, and the destructive slam back down to earth, associated with a vehicle experiencing an IED or mine blast event, the company reports.

Raised IED protection

According to TenCate, the system digitally senses how an IED will effect a ground vehicle and detects, analyses, and directs a powerful active blast countermeasure to protect the vehicle and the troops on board.

TenCate is working with several Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and US military vehicle makers to evaluate the system for use on a wide range of vehicle platforms, including a multi-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM).

“Our talented engineering team has raised the bar on IED protection,” said Mark Edwards, President of TenCate Advanced Armor USA. “The TenCate ABDS  active blast countermeasure system is the world's first practical active underbody blast mitigation solution, and it's ready to save lives.”

Anthropomorphic tests

TenCate performed multiple full-scale, live-fire testing for the last two years at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, using state-of-the-art Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) to capture critical human survivability metrics.

With ATDs positioned fore and aft in 18-20,000 lb 4x4 vehicles, 35 key injury parameters were measured, including head, chest, pelvis, neck, spine, femur, upper tibia, lower tibia, foot and ankle.

With the TenCate ABDS  active blast countermeasure system turned off, tests recorded multiple injuries which collectively proved lethal to all occupants. With the TenCate ABDS  active blast countermeasure system turned on, injuries were reduced significantly – in many cases by as much as 40-70% – and none were lethal.

Retrofitted solution

The TenCate ABDS  active blast countermeasure system is an off-the-shelf, cost-effective solution. This survivability system is lightweight, requires nominal power, and needs little space.

According to the company, its TenCate ABDS  active blast countermeasure system can be integrated and retrofitted onto vehicles, such as the Textron ASV (Armoured Security Vehicle), Oshkosh M-ATV (MRAP - All Terrain Vehicle), AM General MECV-HMMWV (up-armoured Hummer), GDLS Stryker, GDLS-C LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle), Navistar MAXXPRO Dash, and BAE's FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) and Bradley products.

www.tencate.com