The Army Commissariat Order sensors to monitor the integrity of bulletproof vests plates

In February, the British Defense Ministry [MoD] said that he had been forced to recall 120,000 ECBA-type bullet vests [Enhanced Combat Body Armour] After the discovery of cracked plates on some of them. However, “It is clearly unacceptable that one of the members of our armed forces could worry about the quality of such fundamental security equipment. Similarly, ” said one of its officials. Furthermore,

Hence the interest of the versatile plaque door project [G3P]conducted by the joint center of support equipment [CIEC] the Army Commissariat Service [SCA]with the objective of developing a new protection of the fighter combining modularity. For example, lightness and ergonomics, without obviously yielding anything on efficiency. Consequently,

According to the CIEC. However, intended as a priority for army commissariat order sensors monitor special forces, the G3P makes it possible to modulate protection according to the level of threat. Nevertheless, “The operator can thus put either a lighter plate to improve its mobility. However, or add class 4 plates to obtain complete protection, especially against sniper type ammunition,” he said. Meanwhile,

To do this. the G3P uses interchangeable plates, designed from a mixture of several types of materials [titane, carbure de bore, carbure de silicium, entre autres] And having the particularity of being equipped with sensors in order to permanently control their integrity, which can be altered by shocks and/or by temperature differences.

To do this. the CIEC has developed the Gmos-thermos system [GaMma One Shot – TherMique One Shot]which aims to provide each plaque with four fleas [deux sur la face interne et deux sur la tranche] supposed to detect possible cracks.

Thus. the fighter will be able to army commissariat order sensors monitor control the state of his bulletproof vest and, if necessary, replace a defective plate. And this without the need for radiographic means as is currently the case.

In a special issue to support. its official magazine, published last September, the SCA had indicated that it was going to order “more than 60,000 chips” to equip more than 15,000 plates, intended primarily for special forces units, from 2025.

It is therefore within the framework of this project that the SCA has just notified to Silmach a contract of “greater than 3 million euros” value. of a duration of seven years in order to obtain micromechanical sensors based on chronomems technology.

“Each ballistic plaque can now integrate an ultraminanturized. autonomous and energy -free sensor capable of detecting and memorizing the suffered shocks. Thanks to this integrated visual indicator. the armed forces will be able to instantly check the integrity army commissariat order sensors monitor of ballistic protections, thus ensuring optimal security to soldiers while reducing maintenance costs, “said Silmach, via a press release.

Chronomems technology. for which Silmach won the prize “General engineer song” awarded by the Association of Terrestrial Armament in 2014, is used to maintain operational condition [MCO] of certain vehicles, such as, for example, the rapid laying system of trays [SPRAT]. These micromechanical sensors make it possible to measure the state of fatigue of a machine by detecting. counting vibrations as well as deformations of mechanical or thermal origin.

“We realized that shock detection is a generic problem that affects many areas. from aeronautics to consumer goods [casques, smartphones, ordinateurs…] Going through the logistics of products with high added value, ”explained Pierre-François Louvigné, the CEO of Silmach. “Thanks to the expertise that we have developed with the support of the General Directorate for Armament. the Commissariat of the Armed army commissariat order sensors monitor Forces, we are actively working on the diversification markets. Discreet. precise and reliable, these shock detectors permanently monitor 24 hours a day, the object on which they are installed, “he added.

Photo : SCA