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Kevlar, Spectrashield, S2 glass, Ceramics, other polyethylene's, etc. ARE TERRIBLE FOR STOPPING EXPLOSIONS!!!! They will get you killed. The only system that works well is one constructed of certain steels with certain methodologies.

These lightweight materials do work well against explosions in theory because they are very strong and "give" during the event....however; there is no way to install these materials in a vehicle that will not result in the material or its attachment system flying at you at 10,000 feet per second. Let me be more specific..... Putting in lightweight material in a car for explosion protection is difficult because the material will tear at its attachment points or because of other obstacles. Kevlar in a door will tear during an explosion if the door lock rod comes into contact with it, or the steel of the inner door (which looks like Swiss cheese in a Suburban) will rip the material at the speed of light. These types of material should be the secondary material, not the strike face!

No don't get me wrong, armored vehicles made of steel can also be a problem. Banker Alfred Herrhausen of the Deutsche Bank learned the hard way that armored vehicles made of steel, but of poor construction quality will get you killed. It is the quality of the manufacturer and their engineering team that determines whether or not you are dead.

If an armoring company says: We are cheapest, use us...run away

Reason: You are getting a sh*t vehicle

If an armoring company says: "Bob over there is our engineer"... Run
Reason: I do not know anyone in this business that is an automotive engineer, mechanical engineer, scientist, electrical engineer, crash test engineer all in one... If there was one, they would have a 1,000,000 salary.

If an armoring company says: "Lightweight Armor is the best"....Run Reason: Put 500 to 700 pounds in armored glass in an armored SUV above the belt line without the ballast of a steel floor, your center of gravity goes up so high, your vehicle will roll over with the smallest cause (or explosion) The armoring company that does not know this will get you killed... There are many companies like that out there now. Lightweight armor is good part of a LARGER armor system! Even bulletproof vests are not bulletproof (resistant) without being worn because the body is part of the SYSTEM!

If an armoring company says: "We will build your vehicle "in country/theater to save money/time"...run
Reason: Properly armoring a vehicle is destructive to the vehicle. How can they get skilled mechanics and replacement parts "over there" easily and cheaply... Answer.. They don't, they cobble your vehicle together. As of today, I have not seen one single armored vehicle that was made in Iraq/Kuwait/Bahrain/Qatar etc... That I would drive knowing harm was coming...not one.

If an armoring vehicle salesman says: We have lots of production capacity at our plant in Mexico...run Reason, vehicles made there are terrible.

I could go on forever, but the important piece of advice for defeating explosions is: Heavy weight defeats the strong force from explosions and quality construction keeps your vehicle together.

Lastly when you ship a vehicle to your guys in Iraq, send 20 or 30 air filters with the truck. They are priceless following a sand storm. After a long dusty convoy, your vehicle will breathe like a 90 year old with asthma. A new filter fixes it right up; you can even clean the old ones a number of times. Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!!!

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