Advanced Modular Armor Protection

AMAP (Advanced Modular Armor Protection) is a composite armour concept for wheeled and tracked vehicles, developed by the company IBD Deisenroth Engineering.

The modules of the AMAP-family can be combined to create a protection system according to the survivability onion.

Protection Stages

Don't be seen

The outmost shell of the vehicle protection system comprises stealth measures to prevent detection by reconnaissance systems. This part of the protection concept includes measures to reduce the electromagnetic and acoustic signature of a vehicle. The following ranges are also covered: visible spectrum, Infrared and Radar. In the visible range the vehicle colour is selected according to the predominant colour of the landscape. However with actively controlled electrochromic systems it is even possible to adapt the vehicle colour and IR to the background.

Don't be hit

An active protection system named AMAP-ADS (ADS = Active Defense System) was developed to prevent a vehicle from being hit by ballistic threats. The system is also known under the names AAC (Swedish version) and Shark (French version). The system is designed to defeat projectiles before they hit the vehicle. Sensors for target detection and countermeasures are installed all around the vehicle. The sensors detect and track the approaching projectile. A processor unit calculates the trajectory and activates one of the countermeasures close to the calculated impact point. The countermeasure ejects directed energy deflecting or breaking the projectile so that the remaining fragments cannot penetrate the base armor of the vehicle.

Don't be penetrated

Originally armor was made from steel. Since the penetration potential of modern weapons has been increased drastically a corresponding increase in steel armor thickness is not possible. Therefore modern concepts are widely using composite armor because they are significantly lighter than equivalent steel armor. AMAP uses ceramic composite modules made from nano-particles. The weight of ceramic armor with the same protection level is about 1/3 compared to steel armor. Such ceramic plates are mounted on the base armor to improve the protection against ballistic weapons.

A special form of the AMAP passive armor is transparent ceramics, used for vehicle windows or vision blocks.

AMAP also includes special modules for mine protection. This is not limited to special armor under the vehicle but also comprises measures inside the vehicle such as special seats, decoupling the body from the shock, and fixtures for equipment to prevent that lose parts are accelerated and cause injuries.

Don't be killed

Another important part of the protection concept is the spall liner. These plates made from composite material are mounted on the inside of the vehicle. When being glued on the hard but brittle base armor both materials form a compound material, resulting in a stronger vehicle structure. A projectile that hits the base armor generates a shock wave creating spall on the inside. The liner prevents that spalls are generated or the spalls spread out in the vehicle. In case of penetration the liner will at least reduce the angle of the spall cone from about 90° to less than 20° such reducing injuries and damage.

Applications

Known applications for AMAP are the following armored vehicles: LAV-25 Bison (Canada), LMV (Italy), Combat Vehicle 90 CV9030 (Norway), CV 9040 and CV90120 (Sweden), Patria AMV (Finland), Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (France), PUMA IFV and Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle) (Germany), B1 Centauro (Italy).

Prototypes of the active protection system AMAP-ADS have already been tested on several vehicles: SEP and CV90120 (Sweden), AMV 8x8 (Finland) and LMV (Italy)

ee also

AMAP-ADS Active Protection System

External links

[http://www.ibd-deisenroth.de/index.html Webpage of Manufacturer]

[http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/ads-ibd.htm Active Defence System (ADS)]

[http://www.compositesworld.com/hpc/issues/2007/january/1572 The Art of Armor Development]