Lighter, Better Armor from the Idaho Lab

August / September 2008 Volume 6 Number 4

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Idaho National Laboratory and Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, are collaborating under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop improved armor systems for military vehicles.
Under the CRADA, INL armor scientists and engineers will work with the Oshkosh Armor and Survivability group to improve the armor solutions for Oshkosh's defense vehicles. The goal is to provide armor systems with decreased weight and better protection for vehicles facing the threats of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and explosively formed penetrators (EFPs).

"INL will work with Oshkosh, a leader in heavy-duty vehicles, to design armor solutions to protect against IEDs and EFPs in theater threats," says Lisa Nate, INL's technology transfer and commercialization associate who is managing the CRADA. "This collaboration is a great example of transferring INL research and development expertise to private industry, which will ultimately benefit the public and INL."

The CRADA tasks will focus on armor modeling, design and simulation; test-panel validation; initial prototype hardware fabrication; and preliminary recommendations for moving to manufacturing and armor assembly.

"This is a unique opportunity for both Oshkosh and INL to advance armor solutions and improve vehicles for soldiers in the field,"says John Stoddart, Oshkosh executive vice president. "Oshkosh is committed to providing the strongest and most durable vehicles to our military partners, and the INL is helping us accomplish that."

INL has been involved in the development and production of heavy armor for more than two decades. Today, INL's armor-development efforts, under an internally funded and topologically controlled lightweight armor program and direct access to testing ranges, provide basis for rapid materials armor selection, fabricating and test validation. The laboratory's philosophy is to consistently achieve high-performance, armor-manufacturing solutions and innovative manufacturing processes that provide affordable products to military, law enforcement and homeland security personnel. Due in large part to INL's Survivability Program, organizations are able to work with INL armor scientists and engineers in such a way that allows them to rapidly develop and test technology prototypes.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corp., maufactures military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles. Since 1917, Oshkosh has developed new products and technologies for the military and particularly for off-road environments. For more information, visit http://www.oshkoshdefense.com.