Honeywell grows Spectra Shield portfolio: new ballistic materials lighten body armour
Honeywell announced today that it has added new ballistic materials to its Spectra Shield II line that offer further weight reduction, greater ballistic performance, and improved safety in soft armour applications, including military and law enforcement vests.
The new product, Spectra Shield II SA 4144, offers a 25 percent improvement in ballistic performance compared with the first generation of Spectra Shield products, helping keep military and law enforcement personnel safer against a variety of threats, including military-grade pistol rounds and fragments. The material can also reduce the weight of personal armour systems by as much as 30 percent, allowing frontline personnel greater mobility in dangerous situations.
“Honeywell’s latest Spectra Shield II product reflects our continued commitment to lightening loads and improving maneuverability in the field for soldiers and law enforcement officers, while providing them with a world-class bullet-resistant material,” said Phil Wojcik, global business director for Honeywell’s Advanced Fibers and Composites business. “The development of new materials that reduce weight and improve ballistic performance is critical to protecting those in harm’s way from the dangers they face.”
The material achieves new levels of weight reduction while meeting the NIJ .06 ballistic vest certification standard set by the National Institute of Justice, the research, development, and evaluation agency of the US Department of Justice.
Spectra Shield is an advanced ballistic-resistant material that incorporates Honeywell’s high-strength Spectra fiber, which is 15 times stronger than steel pound-for-pound, but is light enough to float. Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process designed to optimize the ballistic performance characteristics of Spectra as well as aramid fiber.
Spectra fiber is made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. It has up to 60 percent greater strength than alternate aramid fiber.
Spectra Shield and Spectra Shield II products have been widely adopted and proven for the most advanced armour applications globally - from bullet-resistant vests, breast plates, and helmets, to combat vehicles and military aircraft - where lightweight solutions and durability are critical.
Source: Honeywell
More from Land Warfare
-
![Europe commits to long-range fires but countries move in different directions]()
Europe commits to long-range fires but countries move in different directions
Sweden, Croatia and France are pursuing different rocket artillery solutions as European armies seek greater reach, survivability and industrial resilience.
-
![Polaris expands Arctic mobility offering as US military orders grow]()
Polaris expands Arctic mobility offering as US military orders grow
The Military 850 Voyageur 155 Crossover has secured orders from the US Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, addressing demand for agile Arctic mobility with passenger, cargo and towing capacity.
-
![Northrop Grumman pushing ahead with smaller Integrated Battle Command System]()
Northrop Grumman pushing ahead with smaller Integrated Battle Command System
Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Polish forces and is being introduced to US forces, with further development underway on the original platform as well as a smaller, more mobile system.
-
![UK’s ground-based air defence effort remains in assessment phase after third industry day]()
UK’s ground-based air defence effort remains in assessment phase after third industry day
The UK’s plan to introduce a new air defence capability into the British Army will cover short and medium-range defence as well as counter-uncrewed aerial system systems. Timelines are not yet laid out but industry is making plans.
