NationStates Jolt Archive

"Hi. This is King Nambi, speaking on behalf of the Nambi research and development laboratories. Our research on personal reactive armor is nearing completion. However, it has yet to me miniaturized to a point of man portability, and for this, our laboratories require forgin sponsorship."

The camera cuts to research lab. There stood a man in a white robe, carrying a clipboard, standing in front of a strange looking thing, and a really cool looking metal suit.

"Thank you, great king. Hello, I am professor Higgle. It all started, 5 years ago, when we tried to develop reactive armor for our HMMWV's. The little buggers could take a beating with our armor, but the blast from the charges would often send the poor little jeep flying in the air, or off the road. We where able to counter this problem by having a charge on the other side of the vehicle fire simultaneously with the charge deflecting the round. This would balance it out ,but then we decided it was stupid to defend jeeps against large caliber fire, and the project was cancelled." The scientist walked over too the cool looking suit.
"However, from this research," he grunted as he put on the suit, "we where able to start a new project. We have managed to miniaturize these charges, and the result? Personal Reactive Armor!" he pressed a button on his the forearm and a there was a loud bang, with an explosion coming out of his chest and back.
"Outward facing shaped charges, and sensors, are embedded all over the suit. The sensors detect incoming projectiles, and then a quick calculation later, bang! Two charges fire, one in the direction of the incoming round, and one on the opposite side. This not only deflects the round, but enables the soldier to basically, ignore bullets,"
He took off the suit. "However, that suit is just a mock up with firecrackers in it. To minimize this system to a man portable level would require more funds,"
He walked over to the strange thing. "This is one of our current systems," he said, "It right now, it can deflect 7.62 rounds, and it weighs about 200 pounds, can only cover the chest and back, and the charges are kept from crushing soldier wearing it with steel rods. We are currently working on miniaturizing it, and extending its coverage to the entire body, and making the charges reloadable, just like a gun. It may not be a looker now, but someday, with better materials, smaller explosives, and faster computers, it could make our and your soldiers almost invincible, albeit for a price."

The camera cuts back to the King.

"I think you are asking yourself 'Why should I donate money to make the Great King Nambi even more powerful?' Well aside from the obvious, for every million donated to this research, upon completion of the project, the donating country shall be licensed to make 100 armor systems. These are to be the only licenses of this system! EVER!" said the King, slamming his hand on the arm of his throne.

I'll send you a million in dollars, but if you want more, I need to see results!

Reactive Armor is very, very hazardous to infantry!! That is why they don't usually use it on IFV's, and it is not standard equipment on MBT's...

Explosive Reactive Armor works by well, exploding. Shrapnel can kill nearby infantry of both allied and enemy nations. Electric Reactive Armor uses electricity to affect HEAT rounds by causing some odd reaction in the molten metal (dont know much about it cept it works well). Electric RA can boost HEAT protection by 500mm.

"Yes, traditional reactive armor is very dangerous to infantry," explains Dr.Higgle, "But, this is reactive armor only in the most basic sense, as it uses explosives to negate the force of incoming projectiles. Really, it is has more to do with airbags, than the reactive armor on vehicles." he said, pulling out an air cannon, "now, in order to explain how this reactive armor works, I shall explain its origin. A few years ago, just after the termination of the reactive HMMWV project, I was out shooting cardboard with my potato cannon. I had a large piece of steel wool with me, and decided to shoot it at the cardboard. My potato cannon only has a 1 inch barrel, and I had to compress the steel wool in order to fit it in,” he said, as he crammed a large hunk of steel wool into the air cannon, “When I fired the potato gun, the steel wool traveled really fast out of the barrel, but it soon uncompressed, and the air resistance caused it to flutter to the ground before it reached the cardboard,” he said, firing the steel wool at the cardboard, to a similar effect, “I then got very angry at the cardboard, recharged the potato gun, and fired the steel wool at the cardboard at point blank range. Sure enough, the cardboard got a big hole, and I got the Idea for personal reactive armor.”
Dr. Higgle pulled out a small explosive that looked like a shotgun shell. "This is a charge, or a reactor as we fondly call it. These are placed periodically on the armor, each covering its own area. Originally they shot steel wool, but this lacked the power to stop bullets. Now we use classified rubbery/powdery stuff, but the concept is still the same. Within one inch from the point of detonation, the rubbery/powdery stuff is very compressed, and can stop a 50 cal round. However, as the rubbery/powdery stuff expands in a cone shape going away from the point of detonation, this only covers 30% of the armored surface, as the charges are spaced out to prevent the entire armor from detonating. Five inches from the point of detonation, the rubbery/powdery stuff can stop a 7.62 round. This covers 87% of the armored surface. Nine inches from the point of detonation, the rubbery/powdery stuff can stop a 5.56 round, and this covers over 100% of the armored surface. 24 Inches from the Armored surface, the rubbery/powdery stuff can deflect thrown projectiles, and grenades. Three feet from the armored surface, the rubbery/powdery stuff is almost harmless, albeit very loud. Thus, when the armor is activated, it would be wise to give a 3-4 feet safe zone around each armored soldier or system. Let me demonstrate." said Dr. Higgle, as he pulled out an M-29.

Dr. Higgle fired a 5.56 round at a dummy wearing the armor, and with a bang, the round was propelled back, and dropped to the floor, covered in classified rubbery/powdery stuff.

"Also, while we are on the matter, currently, it must be set what type of round is to be armored against, so the charges know when to detonate. With more funds, I am sure a system that determines the type of incoming round could be devised, as to best protect the soldiers."

The camera cuts back to King Nambi.

"Because more fund are required, the amount of armor to be licensed per million donated has been raised to 500. These are to be the only licensed Armors! EVER!"