Armor

Engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have forged a new type of ultralight armor material described as a nanofiber mat, which features a unique chemistry that enables it to outperform Kevlar and steel.

A new example of a material with shape-shifting capabilities is modeled on ancient chain mail armor, enabling it to swiftly switch from flexible to stiff thanks to carefully arranged interlocking particles.

A light weight and slim form are two very desirable attributes when it comes to next-gen armor materials. With this in mind, scientists have used advanced nanoscale engineering to craft a new armor material they say outperforms Kevlar and steel.

Milirem Robotics has rolled out its Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle for its first mobility tests. Unveiled in 2020, it's a medium-weight autonomous armored platform, designed to provide reconnaissance and fire support for mechanized units and convoys.

The first Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) from BAE Systems is ready for delivery to the US Army. On August 31, 2020, the first of the vehicles that will replace the Army's Vietnam War-era M113s rolled off of the production line.

Researchers at LANL have hit upon a microstructure with impressive shock absorption. The team 3D-printed cubes with fractal void patterns inside them, which could be a useful structure for new materials in helmets, armor and other protective items.

Scientists at Texas A&M University have figured out a way to supercharge boron carbide armor's already impressive stopping abilities, adding a little silicon to the mix so that it can withstand bullets traveling at even higher speeds.

Although the bulletproof shields used by police officers are definitely life-savers, the things are also quite heavy and bulky. The origami-inspired Swift Shield offers an alternative, as it folds down into a lightweight package when not in use.

When it comes to body armor, there's typically a trade-off – it can either be highly impact-resistant or flexible, but not both. That may not be the case for much longer, however, thanks to an experimental new material inspired by a mollusc.

AddArmor has wrapped an Audi RS7 with its special in-house paneling and ballistic glass to produce what it says is the fastest armored car in the world, with plenty of other tricks up its sleeve to stave off attacks.​​

​How do you stop bullets using the lightest material possible? Researchers working on this problem have developed a new type of bulletproof material comparable in performance to conventional armor, but with just half the weight. ​

In a recent US Army live fire exercise, an automatic countermeasure system successfully deflected 15 out of 15 anti-tank guided missile attacks. The Lockheed Martin Modular Active Protection Systems detected incoming missiles and deflected them off target by jamming their guidance signals.