Virginia-based firm TenCate Advanced Armor has introduced its latest body armor plate.
The Cratus Wave body armor ballistic insert offers enhanced heat stress reduction upon collision and features the company’s proprietary Trauma Reduction Technology, enabling thinner plates to be effective against rifle ammunition.
The company claims the plate is “thinner than other ultra-lightweight” Level 3 inserts or plates that can stop lead core full metal jacket rifle ammunition.
Trauma Reduction Technology
The Trauma Reduction Technology reallocates pressure waves between the user and the hard body armor plates.
This approach reduces back face deformation, in which a projectile hit causes the opposite side of the armor to bulge, inflicting blunt physiological trauma on personnel.
“Trauma Reduction Technology is an exciting game changer for law enforcement and military personnel,” TenCate Advanced Armor President Andrew Bonham explained.
“The rapid dispersion of energy reduces the force that translates to blunt trauma. Thus, we can keep plates the same and reduce the trauma, or redesign the plate and reduce the thickness as we have with the Cratus Wave introduced today.”
‘Right Solution’
According to TenCate, the company will use next-generation materials that could make tactical armor even lighter in future developments.
“Until now, improvements in armor plates have been incremental with little significant differentiation among competing models,” TenCate Personal Protection Lead Jason Kruise stated.
“Using data from Army video X-rays, we could see the shockwave and how it was trapped, and we asked, ‘Why can’t we vent that energy?’”
“This technology is the right solution at the right time. These materials, along with a new NIJ (National Institute of Justice) standard, should result in a new generation of rifle round protection for both law enforcement and defense groups that rely on NIJ certifications.”