Protection System for Defense against Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Attacks Navy SBIR FY2004.2 - Quick Response Topics Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.2 Topic No.: N04-902 Topic Title: Protection System for Defense against Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Attacks Proposal No.: N042-902-0830 Firm: Optimal Synthesis Inc. 868 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, California 94303-4622 Contact: H. L. Phone: (650) 213-8585 Web Site: www.optisyn.com Abstract: Since the Vietnam War, military forces of the United States have had to contend with a highly effective and lethal weapon - rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) - the most popular form of which was originally developed by the Russians as a shoulder-mounted weapon designated the RPG-7. The current weapon was licensed to allies of the Soviet Union, and subsequent to its fall, the RPG-7 became the weapon of choice of insurgents and terrorists around the world. A family of warheads now exists to engage a variety of targets. Few countermeasures have met with success. Since some RPG's shaped-charge warhead is capable of penetrating 12 inches of armor plate, few mobile barriers can shield the personnel from its lethality in the case of a perfect hit. To reduce the lethality of these weapons, the countermeasure proposed here is to deploy specially designed airbags to modify the RPG's hit geometry, to serve as blast barriers absorbing the blast pressure and shrapnel, and to provide detonation separation which also reduces RPG potency. The proposed approach is part of an Active RPG-Defense System (ARPGDS) concept that builds on relatively mature technologies to enhance the survivability of the vehicles and the occupants inside. Benefits: Beyond the immediate operational and life saving benefits to US military personnel, the proposed concept would provide an effective long-term defensive tactic against one of the most highly effective and lethal weapons in today's terrorist arsenals. Negating this threat would significantly diminish the ability of terrorists and insurgent forces to attack mounted US military forces threatening both tooth and tail operations. As the ARPGDS is designed for protection mostly of land vehicles in the battlefield and troublesome regions, the Marine Corps of the Navy and the Army will be the predominant customers, where their military and peacekeeping missions will benefit from the protection accorded them by the ARPGDS. Return