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Stay safe and hidden, with dimmable windows
Wednesday, 9 September, 2009
GKN Aerospace (Stand 791) has been awarded a US Department of Defense contract to develop instantly dimmable bullet-resistant windows for a range of VIP protection applications. Worth USD425,000, the contract has been let by the DoD’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO).
The programme brings together GKN Aerospace’s own bullet-resistant glass experience with ‘suspended particle device’ technology developed by Research Frontiers Inc. Known as SPD-SmartGlass, this technology allows the vehicle occupant instant light control and attenuation. As well as providing armoured protection and ‘on-demand’ privacy, SPD-SmartGlass provides protection against heat, glare and UV light penetration.
Under the CTTSO contract, GKN Aerospace will develop and refine manufacturing processes for the new glass, demonstrate the performance of the windows in a range of extreme environmental conditions, and then satisfy ballistic test requirements against a variety of urban threats.
Initially, the ‘SmartShade’ windows will have application to government VIP armoured personnel vehicles, but they are also of significant interest to the civilian VIP market.
 GKN Aerospace’s dimmable armoured glass employs a layer of Research Frontiers’ SPD-SmartGlass sandwiched between the armour protection layers. The layer darkens instantly when a voltage is applied |