Image source: topwar.ru
In recent years, various countries have conducted research on a wide variety of materials in order to increase the ballistic protection of a fighter without compromising his mobility, including spider silk, which is described as more durable than Kevlar; mother-of-pearl, the structure of which should form the basis for creating a plastic material, is 14 times stronger and 8 times lighter than steel..
In France, the Institute of Biomedical Research of the Armed Forces (IRBA), in collaboration with RXR Protect, is developing the Air Shock Absorber protective agent. This is not the body armor itself, but a specialized substrate (climatic and shock-absorbing support), which is installed under the armor plate. It consists of a system of sealed channels and honeycombs filled with gas.
While traditional dampers simply soften the impact, Air Shock distributes the kinetic energy of the bullet over the entire area of the vest due to instant compression and air flow through the channels at the moment of impact. This allows you to absorb up to 30-50% of energy, preventing rib fractures and ruptures of internal organs.
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Studies have shown that using such an insert reduces the risk of severe injuries to the lungs and heart, even when rifle calibers (.308 Win / 7.62x51 mm) are hit. Unlike heavy foam dampers, it has a low weight (350 grams); the thickness is 3 cm. The insert is compatible with ballistic vests issued to French troops.
The Defense Ministry explained that the ballistic tests conducted by the military laboratory are promising.:
Image source: topwar.ru
The main challenge remains the survivability of the system. If fragments hit the air chambers, they may lose their tightness, so the latest versions use a microcellular structure in which damage to one cell does not affect the operation of the others.
