Ride with Dyneema® for unrivaled protection on land, air and sea
All armored vehicles need robust protection against a wide range of ballistic threats – but mobility is equally important for mission success.
That’s why we harness the power of Dyneema® – a fiber that floats on water while being 15 times stronger than steel – to keep armored vehicles safe and agile in any terrain. Enabling greater protection and lower overall weight, Dyneema® unidirectional (UD) material helps chart the perfect course between light and might.
Dyneema® UD enables higher performance in vehicles on the front lines
MADE FOR: Aircraft
Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs)
Land vehicles
Police vehicles
Civilian VIP vehicles
Special forces vehicles
Dyneema® enables STRENGTHplus+
Armored vehicles need maximum mobility to realize their offensive and defensive capabilities. The ultra-light properties of Dyneema® UD are the best way to realize their potential – and keep users safe in any situation.
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How is Dyneema® UD made?
We start by using molecular engineering to create Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Our cutting-edge method involves disentangling polyethylene molecules using our proprietary gel spinning process, heating and stretching the continuous filaments, then spinning these filaments into ultra-strong fibers.
To manufacture Dyneema® UD, we lay the fibers in a crisscross pattern at 0 and 90 degrees, with the rotated layers allowing for even and rapid distribution of energy. The result is a UD laminate material that’s used in the strongest, lightest, and most comfortable armor in the world. As a final step, we heat and compress layers of sheets of Dyneema® UD to produce ballistic panels.
Accelerating ahead of the competition
Armored vehicles need maximum mobility to realize their offensive and defensive capabilities.
The ultra-light properties of Dyneema® UD are the best way to realize their potential – and keep users safe in any situation.
CLICK ON THE HOTSPOTS BELOW
Outstanding spall liner protection against overmatch threats
Mine protection for vehicle floor
Radar dome protection
High-caliber composite protection
Battle-proven performance – even under extreme conditions
Significant armor weight reduction
Enhancing combat effectiveness for armored vehicles
By reducing the weight of armored vehicles while maintaining their ballistic protection capabilities, Dyneema® UD takes vehicles’ combat performance up a gear. You can expect greater efficiency and payload opportunities, as well as stable performance across hot, cold, and humid combat environments – all of which translate to higher rates of operational success.
For all-round protection on the go
The best stopping power of any armored vehicle material
Safeguards vehicles against a wide range of threats (e.g., bullets, fragments, hand grenades, IEDs)
Unprecedented protection against high velocity threats
Outstanding multi-hit performance in high temperatures and other extreme combat environments
Easy to install and dismantle for greater operational efficiency
Lightening the load of vehicle armor
The ultra-light properties of Dyneema® deliver a host of tactical benefits for armored vehicles, such as increased range, lower fuel consumption, mobility in heavy terrain, increased payload, and reduced rates of vehicle malfunction. Over the 10-year lifespan of a vehicle, these efficiency savings easily outweigh the initial cost of armoring with Dyneema®.
For lighter, more agile vehicle performance
Weight of armored vehicle panels can be reduced by 50% for certain threats, including strict multi-hit requirements at high temperatures
Integrating Dyneema® with a steel or ceramic strikeface provides lightweight protection against AP bullets
Lower fuel consumption increases range of operations
Lightweighting allows vehicles to carry a greater payload, reduces transportation issues, and minimizes maintenance and replacements
Enables significant weight savings of up to 1,000 kg per vehicle
New innovations in development that will enable even greater payload and agility
Protecting your armored vehicle – and the planet
Security isn’t just about protection from immediate threats; defending the planet for future generations is an equally important mission. Not only do Dyneema®’s inherent lightweight properties mean our fiber outperforms all competing alternatives in lifetime vehicle CO2 emissions, but we’re also committed to reducing our carbon footprint in every aspect of our business and delivering end-to-end sustainability for Dyneema® products.
Here are just a few examples of end-to-end sustainability
Sourcing
Some products are available with bio-based Dyneema® fiber, offering the exact same performance and specifications with a 90% lower carbon footprint than generic HMPE fiber.
Manufacturing
100% of the electricity used in our manufacturing comes from renewable sources.
Usage
Lightweight armor means less fuel use. Plus the unique chemical properties of Dyneema® extend the life cycle of end products and reduce material usage over time.
End-of-Life
We work with our customers to establish collection points for end-of-life products, ensuring they’re disposed of responsibly without resorting to incineration or landfills.
The history of Dyneema®
Since the discovery of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in 1967, we’ve been on a journey of innovation to bring the benefits of Dyneema® to military and law enforcement personnel.
The material of choice for elite armed forces
Why do the world’s leading armed forces and law enforcement agencies place their trust in Dyneema®? Because they know it offers unmatched protection for vehicles and personnel while enhancing their combat effectiveness.
Law enforcement agencies include:
New York Police Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Chicago Police Department
Washington DC Metro
Baltimore City Police
Virginia State Police
US armed forces applications include:
US Marine Corps Plate Carrier Generation III
US Marine Corps Enhanced Combat Helmet
US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey
US Army Modular Scalable Vest Generation II
US Army Integrated Head Protection System
US Army Soldier Protection System
US Military Joint Tactical Vehicle
US Navy Mark VI Patrol Boat
Advanced Bomb Suit
Almost all NATO member states, including:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, UK, USA
Putting Dyneema® UD to the test
Armored vehicles made with Dyneema® UD have been tested across three continents in our technical centers with their own shooting ranges. These extensive tests include measuring the performance of Dyneema® at a fiber, UD, and application level. For application tests, Dyneema® armor is applied to military vehicles whose ballistic resistance is then tested against a wide range of variables.
Contact our sales team
Balancing vehicle mobility with protection doesn’t have to mean compromise. If you’re from a law enforcement agency or defense ministry and would like to arrange a bespoke presentation, get in touch.
- Purchasing for your organisation or agency
- Threat mitigation advice
- Tender process
Meeting – and exceeding – international standards
Vehicle armor made with Dyneema® UD is tested according to a variety of requirements across different countries, including VPAM and NATO. In all tests, we ensure that armor made with Dyneema® UD meets and surpasses certification standards, and we’re recognized as offering the lightest vehicle armor solution for armored vehicles.
Design with Dyneema®
Do you work in designing or developing ballistic protection systems? Or maybe you’d like to test what Dyneema® UD has to offer? Our team would love to work with you to develop your ideal performance solutions, using our Dyneema® portfolio.
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