C130 Ballistic Protection
Underfloor Structure
AMCE offers innovative lightweight C-130 cargo compartment ballistic protection solutions to protect Defence’s most important resources – its personnel - against small arms fire.
AMCE offers its designed and certified commercial-off-the shelf ballistic protection solutions for the C-130J-30, which are now in service with the Royal Australian Air Force. If desired, our solutions may be tailored for other C-130 models with ease, due to similarities between the variants.
All our ballistic protection products are developed utilising our very close partnering arrangement with A.C.E. - Armor Composite Engineering.
C-130J-30 Underfloor Armour
Current alternative ballistic solutions typically install armour panels on top of the cargo floor, which interfere with crew operations and necessitate a high level of maintenance and operational effort – ie the need to frequently remove or install armour panels, the need to transport storage crates, the need for frequent maintenance support due to low durability restraint methods, and so on. The high level of maintenance and operational effort detracts resources from core defence operations. Furthermore, these systems typically rely on the use of tie-down rings for restraining the armour panels to the floor, and in some instances they may sit on top of tie-down rings obstructing access – serving to reduce cargo carrying capacity.
Our C-130J-30 underfloor armour system installs armour panels underneath the cargo floor, ensuring that crew operations are not impacted in the slightest. Our system:
- is stealthy - fully maintaining the functionality of the cargo area;
- is a fit and forget system – freeing resources for core defence duties
- is low weight – highly desirable
- is low maintenance
C-130J-30 Paratroop Door Armour
The C-130J-30 paratroop door ballistic protection system comprises a single semi-rigid armour panel fitted to the paratroop door. The armour panel, nestled on the inside of the paratroop door, is mounted using existing fastener locations on the paratroop door. The C-130J-30 paratroop door ballistic protection system does not interfere with crew operations, enabling unobstructed mission operations while providing maximum personnel protection against armour piercing steel core rounds.
The existing negator spring is replaced with an upgraded negator spring (optional) to ensure paratroop door functionality is not impeded. This means, when fitted with armour, the paratroop door may be operated in normal flight for paratrooping missions. Additionally, the paratroop door retains its functionality for normal entry/exit or emergency egress. Unlike alternative paratroop door ballistic protection systems, our solution does not impose any restrictions for normal paratroop door operations.
Ballistic Protection Level
AMCE provides commercial-off-the-shelf C-130J-30 ballistic protection solutions which meet NIJ Standard 0108.01 Type IV, capable of defeating armour piercing rounds at close range. If desired, ballistic armour protection can be tailored to a specific threat environment on request.
Supportability
Our C-130J-30 ballistic protection solutions have been designed to minimise the cradle-to-grave supportability effort. Its key features include:
- Easy to install or remove
- Highly durable
- Not susceptible to environmental degradation
- Requalification is not required
- Visual inspections needed only prior to installation
- Unscheduled inspections can be conducted without hangar facilities or special tooling
- No hazardous materials
Certification
Our C-130J-30 ballistic protection solutions have been certified and meet the aircraft certification baseline.
- Meets aircraft structural design standard MIL-S-5700
- Meets FAR 25.855 flammability criteria (underfloor armour)
- Meets FAR 25.853 flammability criteria (paradoor armour)
If desired, our solutions may be tailored for other C-130 models with ease, due to similarities between the variants.
