“REALITY-BASED” ARMORED VEHICLE SOLUTIONS

TRASCO is constantly researching and testing new armor materials including steel, composites, fibers and glass to determine the best, lightest and most cost-effective solutions possible. Better technology means better protection.
Most of the tests are customer related and therefore confidant. 
To give you the necessary confidence in our armored vehicles we deem it as mandatory to line out, that we work exclusively with certified suppliers like Union Stahl and Sully Saint Gobain, using only materials which are fully certified and have passed the required ballistic tests according to the levels of ballistic protection.

The real threat today

• Improvised Explosive Device (IED) sprays steel fragments at high concentrations and high velocity
• Fully automatic assault rifle for multiple hits in close proximity to each other (AK-47)
• Compound attacks such as IED followed by assault rifle shots
• More prevalent Armor Piercing ammunition with hardened steel cores (B7 level)

OUR RESPONSE

• New Test Protocol designed to represent the Current Threat - unlike any other existing standard and not comparable
• New armor material systems to meet Current Threat
• New armor integration methods to meet Current Threat
• New integrated features to meet Current Threat

WHAT IS AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED)

Any hand made bomb or military ordnance (used in a way other than it’s original design intent). These are usually small devices hidden on the side of the road or in cars.The threat from the many small IEDs used today is primarily from the shrapnel (steel fragments).The fragments spray in all directions at velocities many times faster than high power rifle bullets

Fragment Simulation Projectile (FSP)

FSPs are used to represent sharp-edged pieces of steel bomb casings that impact with high energy (much higher than assault rifle bullets)

AK-47 “KALASHNIKOV” BZ API

• BZ API = Armor Piercing Incendiary Composition
• Hardened Steel core with pyrotechnic charge which ignites upon impact
• Widespread and readily used in more confict countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya)

BALLISTIC & BLAST FACTS

It is not possible to compare test protocol with different threats as higher or lower protection! Every threat is unique for each armor material. Take the following common assault rifle ammunition for example:

• 7.62x39 PS Ball is more lethal against composite armor because of the mild steel core
• 5.56x45 M193 (new: SS92) is more lethal against steel armor because of the energy per unit area
• 7.62x51 M80 Ball is more lethal against ballistic glass because of the total energy

Instead – develop a test protocol that represents the current threat and then design armor materials and a complete integrated vehicle to meet that protocol!!!

NEW UNIQUE HIGH PERFORMANCE STEEL

• A new steel was developed by TRASCO for AP and fragmentation threats which offers large weight advantages over standard ballistic steels (~ 30%)
• Combined with unique aramid laminate for extreme fragmentation protection

SPECIAL MULTI-LAYER GLASS DESIGN

• Layers of glass and polymers combined with steel frames optimized by TRASCO to meet specific requirements for both AK-47 BZ API & high energy fragmentation

VEHICLE INTEGRATION & SECURITY FEATURES

• Large steel components welded together
• Good structural integrity at welds avoids penetration
• Large, continuous pieces provide better blast structure
• Interlocking Door Overlaps for better protection against shots at angles and blast structure to prevent armor from entering crew area
• Advanced adhesives for windows to prevent ejection after blast
• Total system allows for IED blast threats followed by common assault rifle fire