Composite Armor

Composite armor represents the cutting edge of ballistic protection technology, combining multiple advanced materials to achieve superior protection-to-weight ratios. While ballistic steel remains essential for structural armoring, composite materials complement steel by reducing overall vehicle weight and providing specialized protection characteristics.

The Science of Composite Protection

Composite armor works through a fundamentally different mechanism than steel. Rather than relying solely on hardness to defeat projectiles, composites absorb and dissipate energy through fiber deformation and delamination. When a bullet strikes composite armor, the fibers stretch and absorb kinetic energy across a wide area, slowing and capturing the projectile.

Key Composite Materials

Aramid Fibers (Kevlar, Twaron)

Aramid fibers are synthetic polymers with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios. Woven into fabric sheets and layered, aramid materials excel at catching and stopping projectiles. Common applications include:

• Door panel backing behind steel


• Roof and floor blankets


• Spall liners behind glass

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)

Materials like Dyneema and Spectra represent the latest generation of ballistic fibers. UHMWPE offers even better weight savings than aramid while maintaining excellent multi-hit capability. These materials are particularly valuable where weight is critical.

Ceramic Plates

For the highest protection levels, ceramic strike faces are combined with composite backing. Ceramics shatter incoming projectiles while the composite backing catches fragments. This combination defeats armor-piercing ammunition that would penetrate steel alone.

Weight Advantages

Composite armor typically provides:

• 30-40% weight reduction versus equivalent steel protection at NIJ IIIA levels


• 40-50% weight reduction at higher protection levels when combined with optimized steel


• Improved vehicle dynamics due to better weight distribution

Application Areas

We strategically deploy composite armor in:

• Floor protection: Kevlar blankets protect against underbody threats with minimal height increase


• Roof panels: Lightweight composite reduces top-heavy handling characteristics


• Spall liners: Behind all glass to catch fragments


• Door backing: Composite layers behind steel add multi-hit capability


• Pillar fill: Composite materials fill irregular spaces steel cannot reach

Multi-Hit Performance

One of composite armor's greatest advantages is multi-hit capability. While steel can crack or weaken after repeated impacts, quality composite materials maintain protection even after absorbing multiple rounds. This resilience is critical in sustained attack scenarios.