Kennon Products, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N06-016

Description

The V-22 Osprey’s unique capabilities make it an ideal choice to support many insertion and extraction missions into hostile areas. These missions, however, expose the aircraft and crew to small arms fire. The V-22 is currently fielding armor kits that are installed over flooring panels and against cabin sidewalls. These kits are able to stop small arms rounds, but adversely affect mission capabilities. Kennon is proposing to develop anti-ballistic cabin liner kits that will maintain, or improve, anti-ballistic capabilities, while minimizing cabin intrusion, and satisfying V-22 equipment flightworthiness requirements. Kennon also proposes to develop hard armor and fibrous armor impact models that will help to optimize armor weights and protection levels. Kennon’s proposed armor designs are based on patented technologies that are specifically geared towards damage isolation and sequential destruction of incoming projectiles. The armor is inherently scalable, and promises areal density reductions of up to 40%. Drastically reduced armor weights will allow the V-22 to employ armor protection with minimal negative impacts, thus improving mission effectiveness.