Transparent armour

Engineers at the US Air Force Research Laboratory are testing a new type of transparent armour that is stronger and lighter than traditional materials.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in conjunction with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, and University of Dayton Research Institute, OH is testing Aluminium Oxynitride , or ALON, as a replacement for the traditional multi-layered glass transparencies used in existing ground and air armoured vehicles.

Traditional transparent armour is created by bonding thick layers of glass together. ALON Transparent Armour is created by combining the transparent ALON piece as a strike plate, a middle section of glass and a polymer backing, each visibly thinner than the traditional layers.

The ALON material is virtually scratch resistant, offers substantial impact resistance, and provides better durability and protection against armour piercing threats, at roughly half the weight and half the thickness of traditional glass transparent armour.