Specialists in advanced ballistic armour and protection solutions for the defence industry, Air Sea Land Group (ASL GRP), announces its Blast Suppression Blankets have successfully passed independent ballistic and blast testing, achieving its highest rating of 700 metres per second (m/s).
Reflecting the defence sectors’ leading velocity rating and most advanced capabilities for protective flexible and soft amour, ASL’s velocity performance of 700 m/s provides best-in-class against blast fragmentation and light handgun ammunition. The blankets are often used for vehicle protection and suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) contained in packages, where there are weight limitations or needs for travel and changes in location.
ASL’s Aramid‑based Blast Suppression Blankets now offer protection of up to a velocity of 700 m/s, marking a significant milestone in the development of advanced blast suppression solutions. This high velocity is crucial for the blankets to suppress blast fragmentation from explosions, providing protection against potential threats in high-risk regions or taskforces by catching, slowing and trapping fragments from explosions or IEDs, through a combination of high tensile strength and rapid energy dissipation. The highly protective blast blankets also offer unrivalled protection against IEDs and drone attacks, used to cover an individual, team or valuable asset.
The comprehensive testing was conducted at Precision Ballistics Laboratories UK, where ASL’s Aramid-hybrid material demonstrated exceptional ballistic energy absorption, multi‑hit resilience and blast fragment containment – all while maintaining superior flexibility and low weight. The unique material structure passed NIJ 0108.01 Level 3a testing, withstanding impacts at 436 ± 15 metres per second, while blast testing demonstrated protection against fragment velocities up to 700 m/s. The high tensile strength and rapid energy dissipation properties of the hybrid material allow it to catch, slow and trap fragments from explosions or IEDs, while maintaining flexibility and light weight.
Jon Diffey, Managing Director of ASL GRP, comments, “Achieving this level of protection through independent testing is a testament to ASL’s commitment to developing unparalleled levels of protective performance against ballistics and blast fragmentation for high-risk environments and scenarios. This new rating highlights the significant and ongoing research and development we invest into ensuring our customers’ team and assets have the most premium protection possible. Our advanced Aramid-hybrid solutions provide lightweight, adaptable protection across military, marine and security operations, ensuring reliable, optimum performance when it’s needed the most, minimising damage and maximising survivability.”
ASL offers Aramid protection across multiple solutions, including Blast Suppression Blankets, Blast Container Bins, protective hybrid armour and removable ballistic outboard covers, which are now among the top‑performing weight‑saving protective solutions available on the defence market, globally. The lightweight nature of Aramid-hybrid makes it particularly suitable for fast patrol vessels to protect critical mobility, as well as to armour vehicles with weight restrictions, providing an additional crucial ballistic layer to protect crew, units and military personnel when it’s needed the most. The Blast Supression Blankets can also be taken out on missions and when in unprotected areas or moving location – providing a highly protective layer when teams might not have another level of security.
ASL GRP offers end-to-end ballistic protection products and project management expertise, from initial concept and design through meticulous production and seamless integration for every project. To find out more about ASL GRP’s new Aramid solutions, please visit www.aslgrp.com/aramid.