September 29, 2004

BATTELLE HIGHLIGHTS CUSTOMIZED LIGHT WEIGHT HMMWV ARMOR KITS

New Innovation Provides Increased Protection While Preserving Vehicle Performance

Columbus, OH and Virginia Beach, VA - Today, Battelle announced the rollout of the customized Light Weight HMMWV Armor Kit, a solution that is affordable, easily installed, and most importantly provides increased protection for both the service member and the vehicle while preserving the operational capabilities of a HMMWV. Currently, 75 kits are fielded with Special Operations Forces and more than 400 kits are on order.

"Daily reports from Iraq and Afghanistan show that up-armoring saves lives in the field. The HMMWV was initially designed to serve as the military's light and agile workhorse, not to handle the constant burden of thousands of pounds that would be added by conventional armor solutions," notes Skip Dirren, Vice President and head of the Navy Market Sector at Battelle. "With expertise in providing design, development and rapid prototyping of innovative technology, Battelle engineers developed a sophisticated solution to this challenge - enhancing the safety of the men and women serving our country."

With a net weight of approximately 750 pounds, the customized Light Weight HMMWV Armor Kits lessen the strain on a vehicle's suspension system and transmission that is typically caused by heavier, conventional up-armoring systems. In addition to standard bolt-on panels that protect critical areas of the vehicle, the kits also include armor-hardened parts-such as doors, seats, windshields, and replacement titanium skid plates-that reduce the additional weight.

As early as 2002, Battelle engineers began conducting rigorous market surveys to identify the lightest, commercially available armor material to provide the desired level of protection with the best combination of weight and cost. A number of advanced materials are employed in the kits - including titanium, and a lightweight polyethylene fiber 15 times stronger than steel. Once the materials were identified and the design was developed, the kits were then subjected to extensive live-fire tests at Battelle's High Energy Laboratory Area to assess their viability. Those test results subsequently were verified during an independent government evaluation at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

"With Battelle's independent perspective and thorough understanding of the equipment, our experts have developed a viable, long-term armor solution that provides increased protection at a reduced cost and lower weight," said John Bockbrader, the armor kit project manager and a Senior Research Scientist with Battelle's Equipment Development and Mechanical Systems Group. "We continue to refine and evolve the design for Light Weight HMMWV Armor Kit to meet the needs of the soldier based on feedback from interviews with personnel in the field."

Additionally, the kits can be adapted for multiple HMMWV models and trucks, as well as small watercraft. The components can be easily installed, removed and folded, allowing for easy transport and rapid response to changing requirements. After Battelle initially installs and modifies the kits to meet clients' needs, experts then train client personnel to perform the installation themselves.

Battelle has a long history of developing armor solutions to protect soldiers in a broad array of land and sea combat situations. For example, during World War II Battelle helped to armor-plate tanks for the U.S. Army. More recently, Battelle scientists worked with the military to decrease the weight of the ceramic plates found in individual body armor used daily by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A sample of the armor kits will be on display from September 29th - 30th during the US Naval Institute Ninth Annual Warfare Exposition and Symposium at the Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, at booth #122. For additional information, contact Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or delaneyk@battelle.org or Myllisa Lardieri Kennedy at (202) 486-6342 or kennedym@fleishman.com.

About Battelle

Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, it develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for clients. Battelle, with the national labs it manages or co-manages, oversees 16,000 staff members and conducts more than $3 billion in annual research and development. Battelle innovations include the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on compact disc technology, medical technology advancements, and fiber optic technologies.

With more than 50 years' experience in military chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense programs, Battelle is a leader in using science and technology to detect hazards and protect people and facilities against weapons of mass destruction. Battelle's expertise covers all aspects of anti-terrorism defenses-from threat and vulnerability assessments, to testing of security systems, equipment, vaccines, and medical and community response; and training and evaluations.