TEN CATE : Cate Advanced Armor targets army modernization programs for enhanced survivability

Following articles in the media, the U.S. Army is beginning a major army modernization program of its vehicle fleets. According to Defence Professionals (source www.defpro.com) the new programs include among others a new infantry fighting vehicle, the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), an armored replacement for the venerable M-113 and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). One of the main purposes in army modernization programs is to enhance survivability. GCV and JLTV vehicles will have a higher level of protection against future ballistic threats. The TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system is well positioned to form part of a higher level of protection in these platforms.

TenCate Advanced Armor is currently in the process to cooperate with government institutions and OEM's (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to offset overall development costs to speed up the maturation and time to market of the TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system.

Initial production opportunities
Mark Edwards, President of TenCate Advanced Armor North America states: "Although these new programs are not near term production platforms, the IED protection system of TenCate is an important addition to the existing passive antiballistic protection we offer to the OEM market for armored vehicles. These new platforms offer opportunities to bring our survivability solutions into theatre. In the shorter term there will be some low rate initial production opportunities before these platforms come to market."

Advanced threat protection technologies
TenCate Advanced Armor North America is committed to speed up the time to market and to support both government and OEMs with access to the technology of the TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system. A newly formed dedicated TenCate team located in Goleta (California), USA, will be capable to rapidly evaluate and enhance advanced threat protection technologies and improve safety for US and allied soldiers.

The final phase of testing includes cooperative interaction with various North American and European based prime defense contractors and government agencies. The TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system is scalable to meet the ever changing IED threat and is easily retrofitted to a wide variety of vehicle sizes, weights and platforms.
TenCate Advanced Armor has successfully completed underbelly blast testing on a 15-ton flat-bottom Armored Personnel Carrier with a fully integrated TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system. TenCate is working to rapidly mature the system and to create efficient integration solutions for a range of ground platforms.

The TenCate ABDS(TM) active blast countermeasure system effectively mitigates the devastating effects of IED's by defeating the acceleration of the vehicle, while protecting the vehicle structure.

Royal TenCate
Almelo, the Netherlands, Friday 15 June 2012
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For further information:

A digital picture of the new office of TenCate Advanced Armor in Goleta (California), USA, is on your request available via: [e-mail]:
mailto:[e-mail]

TenCate (corporate)
F.R. Spaan, Corporate Director Business Development & Investor Relations
Telephone     : [phone]
Mobile          : [phone]
E-mail           : [e-mail]:
mailto:[e-mail]

TenCate Advanced Armor North America
Mark Edwards, President of TenCate Advanced Armor
Telephone     : [phone], Ext. 248
Email            : [e-mail]:
mailto:[e-mail]
Internet         : www.tencateadvancedarmor.com:
http://www.tencateadvancedarmor.com/

TenCate Advanced Armor is a leading global supplier of a wide range of armor composite materials for ballistic protection. TenCate Advanced Armor develops and produces a portfolio of composite and ceramic materials and designs active armor solutions for the protection of police, army, air force, navy and civilian service personnel, vehicles and vessels. TenCate Advanced Armor has facilities in Europe, Asia and North America.

Royal Ten Cate (TenCate) is a multinational company that combines textile technology with chemical processes and material technology in the development and production of functional materials with distinctive characteristics. TenCate products are sold throughout the world.
Systems and materials from TenCate come under four areas of application: safety and protection; space and aerospace; infrastructure and the environment; sport and recreation. TenCate occupies leading positions in protective fabrics, composites for space and aerospace, antiballistics, geosynthetics and synthetic turf. TenCate is listed on NYSE Euronext (AMX).

Press release as PDF:
http://hugin.info/130798/R/1619902/517420.pdf

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Source: Koninklijke Ten Cate NV via Thomson Reuters ONE

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