Several thousand Tarian QuickShield nets heading to the frontline.
PHOENIX (March 21, 2011) – AmSafe® Industries, Inc., the leading provider of engineered textile products for the aviation, defense and specialty vehicle markets, today announced the award of a contract worth four million dollars from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for AmSafe’s innovative rocket propelled grenade (RPG) protection system, Tarian™ QuickShield.
Tarian QuickShield is a lightweight textile net that is used to replace damaged or missing bar armor. The QuickShield kit can be easily stowed in the vehicle; when needed, it can be immediately fitted in replacement of damaged bar armor. Tarian QuickShield provides continuing protection to the vehicle and its crew without mission disruption.
“The introduction of Tarian QuickShield into operations in Afghanistan allows vehicle crew to rapidly repair damaged bar armor in the field, without the need for specialist tools, and will therefore help to ensure better vehicle protection during extended missions away from bases,” said Major Gareth East, REME, UK MOD Specialist & Logistic Vehicles Project Team.
“Our work with the MOD and the performance of Tarian QuickShield demonstrates our ability to develop innovative products in collaboration with military end-users which address the special requirements of combat situations,” said Terence Lyons, CEO of AmSafe. Neal McKeever, vice president of defense for AmSafe added, “We are extremely proud to have been awarded this contract and we are confident that other military organizations will recognize the unique benefits that QuickShield affords in terms of reduced risk to troops and improved vehicle availability.”
Tarian QuickShield has been developed from Tarian as a simple and effective repair kit for damaged bar armor. The Tarian technology was originally introduced in 2009 and has been rigorously tested—in the U.K. by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, an agency of the Ministry of Defence, and in the U.S. by its Department of Defense counterpart DARPA—to include over 550 live firing shots. This testing has verified both a high level of performance and a multi-hit capability inherent in the Tarian technology.
Tarian was developed as a lightweight modular system designed to replace the traditional bar or slat armor at a weight savings of up to 98%. Those vehicles that cannot accommodate the added weight of traditional RPG armor, such as the HMMWV, can now be outfitted and protected with Tarian.
In a speech delivered by UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology at Chatham House, London on Tuesday 23 November 2010, referencing the impact of science and technology and its ability to deliver better value for money, the Rt Hon Peter Luff, stated that “Tarian is as effective as the current steel or aluminum, but is so much lighter that it reduces fuel use and vehicle maintenance, greatly reducing the cost of operations.”
About AmSafe Industries, Inc.
AmSafe Industries, Inc. is the world leader in safety and securement products for the aerospace, defense, and ground transportation industries. AmSafe’s innovative products can be found on virtually every commercial aircraft in the world and include seatbelts, restraints, airbags, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs and cabin interior textiles, and its textile armor protection system and restraints can be found on a wide range of military vehicles worldwide. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, AmSafe operates manufacturing and service facilities around the globe and is committed to providing quality products and timely, cost effective solutions to customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.amsafe.com.