Militaries all over the world are in the process of upgrading their aging land platforms due to continually evolving technologically advanced threats. Anti-tank mines and IEDs have become the weapon of choice in recent years, resulting in the urgent need for APC and other armoured vehicles with enhanced protection. APC and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) help in maintaining an edge over the enemy’s act of border trespassing by aggressively reacting to the act of insurgency and that too with a fearless approach.
The role of the APC, as the crucial measure of ground combat power, has not changed over the years in reaction to the threat posed by large armored formations operating in the vicinity of national borders. APC was not developed to defeat the tanks. APCs’ ultimate goal is to defeat the machine gun, etc., and to penetrate the enemy’s defense lines in hostile regions mobilizing and providing penetration to infantry beyond enemy forward lines.
Threats encountered by APC
APC too comes with some notable inherent limitations on the ever-evolving battlefield and ammunition. The design and building of these vehicles remain vulnerable in several key areas like its side armour is not effective against most Anti-armour projectiles.
Because of the increased velocity of war challenges and the pace of technology change, Army & land forces need to update & modernize their existing fleet of APCs with innovation & armour in such a way that it can counter future challenges. MKU offers ballistic protection solutions based on protection & performance requirements of the land systems, including APC and tanks.
Modernization is intended to provide the vehicle with the additional capability to intervene in urban scenarios and remain prepared for future threats and deliver the best performance. Armour solution by MKU results in increased survivability and improved mobility of existing tanks in the arsenal of armies. In today’s world, APCs are highly advanced and exceptionally expensive to produce. MKU offers less expensive and high-quality Add Armour which can be retrofitted to upgrade existing vehicles to meet evolving threats, thus reducing the cost of ownership to save existing machinery from getting transformed to scrape or obsolete.
Most exposed to threats are normally the gunners who are manning the guns mounted on the APC or the vehicle roof. They are vulnerable to not only direct line of fire but also lie prone to indirect firing, especially while conducting operations in urban built-up areas where unpredictability and ambushes play a key role and gunners have to remain on a 360-degree swivel constantly. Not only do they need personal protection gear like enhanced
Body Armour including Helmets with communication headsets but also a protective barrier such as a turret to protect them from heavier rounds including shrapnel and fragments from RPG attacks. For gunners on most APCs and combat vehicles, MKU offers Up Armoured Turrets which can be easily customized in terms of protection levels and configurations and constellations they might be required in order to fit complex and diverse needs and requirements of the combat role the vehicle is likely to perform.
MKU offers less expensive and high-quality solutions, which save existing machinery from getting transformed into scraps. MKU technologically advanced 6th Generation solutions demonstrate improved resistance to environmental conditions like UV radiation, water, sunlight, and sudden temperature changes.
MKU offers
armour solutions for Land Platforms in a variety of constellations namely: Stand-alone Armour, Customized Ballistic Panels, Pre-Engineered Kits, Add-on Armour or Spall Liners, depending upon the end-use, user specifications, and in-theatre roles intended for the land platform.
POLYSHIELD V is lightweight armour made of Polyethylene Fibers (UHMWPE-Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) capable of enduring temperatures from -40°C to 65°C. POLYSHIELD V protects different threat levels as per NIJ 0108.01 Level I to III, EN 1522 Level FB4 to FB7, and STANAG 4569 Level I.
FLEXAR panels are flexible and lightweight. These panels are made by using Aramid fibers and a special rubber matrix. These panels can withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to +80° C. It also has excellent spall properties. FLEXAR panels are fire, corrosion, chemical-resistant, and water-repellent. Stand-alone panels can give protection against threats: NIJ 0108.01 Level III-A, EN 1522 Level FB4 Cerazone panels from MKU are made using a wide range of ceramics including advanced ceramics and various fiber combinations.
Cerazone offers multi-hit capability against threats like NIJ 0108.01 Level I to IV, EN 1522 Level FB5 to FB7, STANAG 4569 Level I to Level IV, and VPAM PM 2007 Level PM1 to PM14.