Safariland Blog - Armor Systems

Selecting a Ballistic Guard Shack – Part I: Bullet Resistance

geoff.patti@baesystems.com (Geoff Patti) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 -0500

What makes a guard booth “ballistic”? What one may visualize as a metal “box”, can actually be much more involved. Especially when it comes to a bullet resistant “box”, which is intended to be a potential live saving device. There are essentially two factors to consider when selecting a bullet resistance structure: Bullet Resistance and Points of Vulnerability. We’ll be focusing exclusively on bullet resistance in this post.

There are three main elements to consider when discussing the bullet resistance of armor:

Handgun vs. Rifle Protection

Unlike armoring for a vehicle or a person where weight can be an issue, when considering a bullet resistant structure it’s almost always better to over protect than under protect. The projectile velocity of a rifle is generally twice that of a handgun. To give you a general understanding, a standard 9mm full metal jacketed (FMJ), 124 grain, lead round fired from a common handgun has a muzzle velocity of approximately 1100-1400 feet per second (FPS). A standard .30 caliber (7.62 x 51mm), FMJ, 150 grain, lead core round fired from a .308 rifle has a muzzle velocity typically ranging from 2400-2800 FPS. In virtually all cases, the 7.62mm round will penetrate handgun armor as if it were not there at all.

In short, when choosing one level over another, it’s important to clearly understand just what it is you’re specifying. Make sure your armoring will protect you against any reasonable threat.

Special Threats

Not only should the handgun vs. rifle protection question be considered, but one should consider the types of ammunition that may be encountered.

With the abundance of ammunition types available today, this is a critical element when specifying your product. It’s simple (and common) to select your protection level based on an existing standard. For example, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These are excellent standards and can be very effective. However, does this truly address all of the ballistic threats your environment may encounter? Probably not. A diligent security manager will determine what other threats exist and could realistically be encountered.

Ballistic Testing

There’s nothing like getting a response from someone that starts with ”well, we took it out back and shot it with my buddy’s .22.” Over the years I have had countless groups approach me with a new material that “no one has”, that is “better and lighter” and “costs almost nothing to make”. When I inquire about threats and testing it usually starts with, “well we took it out behind the shop and…”

A ballistic test should be conducted in an independent, controlled environment by skilled technicians. There are several ballistic testing laboratories in the United States that do just this. The result is a test which validates that the armor meets the specified performance criteria set forth by the buying authority. These tests ensure that a specific ammunition type (including bullet weight and composition) is tested in accordance with the appropriate velocity and that the test sample is impacted at the proper “obliquity” (or angle of incidence), along with the number of impacts required over a specified surface area.

The most common criteria is to defeat the projectile at muzzle velocity (the velocity at which the projectile exits the barrel of the weapon) and 0-degree obliquity (otherwise defined as perpendicular to the plane tangent to the point of impact).

Lastly, when working with metallic armor there should be no exception to testing each individual Lot of armor that goes into the fabrication of your product. Not all armor is created equal. Just because one ½" armor plate defeats a certain projectile, it should in no way be assumed that all ½" plate will defeat it. Though it’s not common for Lots to vary, it can and does happen.

To sum it up, ensure your armor is rated to protect against any reasonable threat, including potentially uncommon threats. You should also require that armor is tested accordingly and that there is traceability from the steel mill to your end product, which includes mill certifications and ballistic testing of each Lot.

Stay tuned for part II of this series, where we discuss points of potential vulnerability in structural armor and how to reduce or eliminate those vulnerabilities.

Defensive Fighting Positions – Enhancing Perimeter Protection

geoff.patti@baesystems.com (Geoff Patti) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:59:00 -0500

Armored Fighting Positions are commonly called Defensive Fighting Positions and can be utilized for all types of security applications. From frontline checkpoints to extending out to the perimeter, these structures afford personnel protection against various levels of ballistic and/or fragmentation threats.

Typically made from armor plate, these products feature gunports for return fire as well as transparent armor viewports for increased visibility. And, producing them in customized configurations offers flexibility relative to coverage, deployment methods, and fields of fire.

Security applications include:

Replacement of sandbags and/or concrete
Hardening of existing infrastructure
Checkpoints and guard posts
Supplemental guard house security
Naval ship gunner protection
Border crossings
Temporary security positions
Elevated (rooftop) security

Further versatility exists by producing them in either fully pre-fabricated versions, lightweight composite systems or modular kits, with the added option of mobile or fixed in place variants.

More information on these types of fighting positions can be found at www.protecharmored.com

Boats and Armor

geoff.patti@baesystems.com (Geoff Patti) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:08:00 -0500

In years past, the words, "boat" and "armor" were rarely used in the same sentence. Since 9/11 this has changed dramatically. With the threat of waterborne terrorist attacks ever so existent, ballistic protection is rapidly becoming a part of every day security requirements.

From vehicle (marine craft) -borne IED’s to small arms weaponry, military, law enforcement and security personnel are becoming more frequently engaged in hostile environments here in the homeland as well as abroad.

Also growing is the constant growing threat of piracy. In 2008 alone, pirates attacked over 100 ships, hijacking some 49 of them, resulting in paid ransoms in the tens of millions of dollars, as well as human casualties.

When considering protection for small marine craft or large vessels it is important to weigh in on the broad spectrum of ballistic and blast threats existent in today’s marine environment; and to ensure safe passage in a dangerous world.

What You Need To Know About Mobile BREs

pennington.way@baesystems.com (Pennington Way) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:39:00 -0500

For decades, fixed position blast- and ballistic-resistant enclosures (BRE) have been standard operating equipment at checkpoints, perimeters, outside government buildings, and critical national infrastructure sites. BREs can function as sentry posts, armored firing positions, and often as a first line-of-defense. Depending on the position’s specs and desired threat resistance, a BRE could stop machinegun fire and resist explosive charges.

As times change and asymmetric threats become more and more common, the need to have flexible perimeters and security zones is also growing. Mobile BREs can rapidly provide additional ballistic- and blast-resistant protection to personnel almost anywhere. A mobile BRE position often has self-contained power systems, CBRN air filtration, gun ports, communication systems and high-power external lighting. The mobile BRE sits on a military-grade chassis and can be towed and moved into position by a wide-variety of vehicles…large SUVs and trucks, HUMVEEs, SWAT trucks, small to mid-size military logistical vehicles, etc.

When thinking about mobile BRE applications, I like to use the following scenario as an example:

A prominent government facility becomes the site of a protest or inauguration. As standard operating procedure, the building or location may already have fixed sentry positions, checkpoints and maintain a series of protocols for different security zones. Special events, massive crowds, and elevated security would most likely affect the site’s normal perimeter and security SOP. Mobile BREs could be rapidly deployed around the site to add layers of security, serve as additional checkpoints and roadblock command posts, and be positioned to reinforce and support security personnel.

One more thing to consider is the long-term investment value of mobile BREs. When properly maintained, a mobile BRE could give 10 or more years of regular service. They can be towed to most locations or multiple units can be loaded onto a trailer bed. Trials, large sporting events, protests, parades, dignitary visits, diplomatic facilities and terrorist attacks all require additional security, checkpoints/roadblocks, and improvised perimeters…a group of mobile BREs might be the perfect solution.

If your department, company, or security group has any questions about fixed or mobile BRE units, drop me a line.