AmSafe Bridport Ltd is displaying Tarian for the first time in the Middle East at IDEX. This revolutionary, lightweight and flexible rocket propelled grenade (RPG) armour system has been fitted to a PARS 6×6, in collaboration with Turkey’s FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.S. (Defense Systems Inc.)
Tarian technology has been developed in response to a requirement from the military for a lightweight, higher performance and more robust alternative to traditional, heavy, metal bar armour RPG protection systems. The core element of the Tarian RPG defeat mechanism is an extremely strong textile net manufactured from high-tenacity fibres.
Tarian nets are attached to vehicles using innovative flexible mounts that enable the system to withstand harsh vehicle operating conditions without sustaining damage. Compared with traditional bar armour RPG protection, Tarian provides improved protection performance and, being significantly lighter, enables vehicles to operate more efficiently.
Neal McKeever, Sales & Marketing Director at AmSafe Bridport Ltd, said:
“AmSafe Bridport is delighted to be showing Tarian at IDEX for the first time. The development work that we have undertaken with FNSS to showcase Tarian on the PARS 6×6 vehicle demonstrates the adaptability of Tarian to fit a wide variety of vehicle types. The cooperative relationship that AmSafe has developed with FNSS has successfully created an integrated RGP protection system to FNSS’s platform.”
On 7 February 2013, AmSafe Bridport Ltd announced that it has secured a contract to supply Tarian RPG armour systems to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The contract award followed an international competition where Tarian was one of three solutions down-selected for a programme of rigorous testing and trials, including live firing and vehicle field trials.
This latest contract includes the supply of several hundred Tarian RPG armour system kits for a variety of vehicle types that are currently in service in Afghanistan. The contract is valued at £10.6m ($17m) and will be completed by the end of 2013.
Background Information
Tarian has been developed as a lightweight modular system designed to replace the traditional bar or slat armour at a weight savings of up to 98 per cent. Those vehicles that cannot accommodate the added weight of traditional RPG armour, such as the Foxhound, can now be outfitted and protected with Tarian.
The Tarian technology was originally introduced into active military service in May 2009 and has been rigorously tested – in the UK by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – an MOD agency – and in the US by its Department of Defense counterpart – DARPA – to include over 800 live firing shots. This testing has verified both a high level of performance and a multi-hit capability inherent in the Tarian technology.
AmSafe Bridport Ltd is located in Bridport, Dorset, UK. At this facility AmSafe designs and manufactures cargo handling and airframe products for both commercial aviation and defence; provides MRO services for airframe products; and designs and manufactures RPG protection systems for use by the military.
