AST Security Equipment (AST) and Blohm + Voss Have Qualified a STANAG 4569 Ballistic Armour System for MEKO Corvettes of the Future
14 February 2007
Under a joint development / cost-reduction programme AST and B+V have developed and now qualified a modular ballistic protection solution in line with the requirements of AQUAP 4569. This new approach is to be used for future MEKO corvettes.
The configurable system, with hybrids of aramide and ceramics, HPPE or PE and steel, or wood and steel, suits the differing weight requirements for ships, below and above the water line. Furthermore, a number of elastic mechanical attachment devices were qualified. They take into account the low-frequency structural dynamics of the ships and thus provide a better reliability over the ships' lifetime.
MEKO frigates were previously armoured with only one type of aramide and ceramic hybrid, attached to Nelson bolts with shock-resistant nuts. AST has supplied the complete ballistic armour system for four previous SAN MEKO frigates. Ballistic armouring for individual on-deck units had previously been supplied to the Turkish and Malaysian Navies.
