Fully tested anti small arm glass protection film launched at NAVDEX
A ground-breaking glass protective system, Water Dragon C2, developed for the maritime industry by Idarat Maritime to protect vulnerable crews against small arms and blast, will be formally launched at NAVDEX 2011 on Monday 21 February
Water Dragon C2 tested and marketed by Idarat Protection Limited, a British company, and subjected to stringent ballistics tests in the UK has been shown to be an effective protection against AK47 7.62 mm rifle fire, the standard weapon used by Somali pirates.
The protection of personnel from serious injury from gunfire is a core concern of crews and of prime importance to the shipping and insurance industries. Coastal forces using small lightly protected vessels will also find Water Dragon C2 to be of particular interest as it gives their crews enhanced protection from small arms fire.
Water Dragon C2 has huge potential in the maritime industry protecting merchant ships transiting areas where piracy occurs; effective protection against small arms is now a necessity and this solution is cost effective and quick to install, compared with the alternatives.
Water Dragon C2 is a significant development of materials used for protection against bomb blast for building glass and already installed in key commercial and government offices in the UK, as well many other parts of the World.
Water Dragon C2 is extremely light and, when fitted by the company, has a 10 year warranty against malfunction. It can be fitted in 48 hours on the inside of the glass by a trained team.
Water Dragon C2 is completely transparent and does not affect the optical properties of marine glass, nor is it affected by heat or cold. Installation can be undertaken when a vessel is at sea, avoiding down time.
Christopher Ledger, Operations Director of Idarat Maritime Ltd, said:
"For far too long the crews manning the bridge of those vessels likely to be attacked in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and off Nigeria have had no tested and effective protection against small arms fire. Now there is no reason for them not to be properly protected. In fact we believe that Water Dragon C2 is essential safety equipment, necessary to protect life at sea."
Every vessel now attacked in the Indian Ocean - whether it escapes or not - invariably has to run a gauntlet of high velocity rounds aimed at its bridge - a truly terrifying and highly dangerous experience. One vessel recently took 80 rounds into its bridge; all invariably take a few into the accommodation.
Source: Idarat Maritime
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.