LTC unveils lightweight composite armor innovations

Mike Coltrane, LTC Business Development, commented, “Through advanced processing methods and controls we’ve been able to achieve unprecedented levels of performance at significantly lower areal densities. In our initial integrations of these systems we’ve provided our customers with substantial weight savings on the order of 25-45% lighter than legacy systems. Likewise, we were recently granted a patent for our armor panel edge protection system which provides spec level ballistic performance to within one-half inch of an armor panel edge. We believe that these improvements in performance will significantly benefit our customers in the watercraft, aircraft and ground vehicle industries.”

These groundbreaking systems are manufactured from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) materials and are nearly impervious to water, making them exceptionally suited for a marine environment.

John Bockbrader, LTC Manager of Product Development, explained, “we’ve taken the newest and most advanced UHMWPE raw materials and applied our extensive manufacturing expertise to develop this leap forward in performance. This, combined with our innovative integration designs, can save hundreds of pounds over legacy armor systems. The new armor is also thinner, allowing for additional packaging space.”

In addition to significant reductions in weight, LTC offers the most robust and end-user friendly solutions in the industry. Bockbrader further explained, “There’s no advantage to having the lightest protection available if the end product is not able to withstand the rigors of daily use and abuse. Years of experience have allowed us to develop a thorough understanding of what it takes for an armor system to survive in a wide range of environments. This knowledge has allowed us to develop innovative mounting systems and patented edge protection that keeps weight to a minimum while ensuring that the installed armor exceeds our customer’s expectations.” LTC has also developed a range of fully buoyant armor systems providing design options not previously available for watercraft or amphibious vehicle manufacturers.

In addition to their vehicle-based armor solutions, LTC is a key solution provider of personal protection armor systems to a diverse group of government and law enforcement agencies.

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