[iwar] [fc:Boffins.invent.grenade.vaporising.'electric.force.field']

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-08-19 08:46:11


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Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 08:46:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:Boffins.invent.grenade.vaporising.'electric.force.field']
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Boffins invent grenade vaporising 'electric force field'
By John Leyden
Posted: 19/08/2002 at 10:18 GMT

Boffins at Britain's Ministry of Defence have invented an electric 'force
field' designed to protect armoured vehicles against anti-tank grenades.

The 'electrical armour' is designed to vaporise copper projectiles released
from grenades on impact before they are able to penetrate a tank's inner
hull, the Daily Telegraph reports. The idea is to make tanks less vulnerable
to anti-tank launchers, such the RPG-7, which is commonly and cheaply
available in the world's trouble spots, such as Afghanistan.

When armaments like RPG-7 grenades hit a tank, a "shaped-charge" warhead
blasts a jet of hot copper into a target at around 1,000mph - capable of
slicing through a foot of conventional solid steel armour.

The new electric armour is based on a highly charged capacitor connected to
two separate metal plates on the tank's exterior. The outer (armour-plated)
plate is earthed while the insulated inner plate is live.

When the crew of a tank feel they are under danger, they switch on current
to the inner plate, using the tank's internal power supply.

If the tank is unfortunate enough to be hit by a grenade, the jet of copper
produced will penetrate both the outer plate and the insulation of the inner
plate completing a circuit, which results in the discharge of the capacitor
and the vaporisation of most of the copper.

The Telegraph reports that despite the high charge generated by the system,
the "electrical load on the battery is no more than that caused by starting
the engine on a cold morning".

It sounds bizarre, but the paper reports that in a recent demonstration an
armoured personnel carrier protected by the system withstood repeated
attacks by rocket grenades that would normally have destroyed it many times
over.

Boffins hope to develop the armour further and fit it in Britain's next
generation of tanks and armoured personnel carrier. The Pentagon is also
reportedly showing a keen interest in work on the technology. ®

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