1,400 new Oshkosh M-ATV tactical vehicles are to fitted out with SKYDEX blast mitigating flooring by September 2011 following agreements signed in June 2011 between the two companies.
SKYDEX is a blast mitigation system used to minimise the transmission of force from an IED blast to the occupants of military convoy vehicles. The technology has been installed in over 12,500 vehicles to date, including 200 new Stryker Double V-Hull (DVH) vehicles manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (GDLS-C) for deployment to Afghanistan.
The patented twin-hemisphere plastics flooring has also been included in the US Defense Logistics Agency contract for 1000 M-ATV vehicles. According to SKYDEX, testing shows a 90% reduction in the risk of injury from IED blasts when using the technology. This allows manufacturers to use thinner steel floors on the vehicles, reducing weight and improving manoeuvrability.
