by Ami Rojkes Dombe
The OSG Company is developing a bullet-resistant windshield that can enhance crew safety and upgrade the vehicle’s operational performance. Exclusive interview
The
OSG Company of Kibbutz Palmach Zova has started manufacturing a
bullet-resistant windshield with a touch screen embedded in it. “It is a
cassette-like device inserted between the safety glass layers. The
screen is connected to the vehicle’s multimedia system, so it may be
used to display maps, live feeds from the day or night vision cameras
mounted on the vehicle, and other video options,” explains Daniel Cohen,
OSG CEO and a member of Kibbutz Palmach Zova.
“One of the problems with combat vehicles is the lack of
space in the cabin occupied by the vehicle commander and driver. Today,
the vehicle commander must balance his laptop computer on his knees
during operational activity. This is awkward and inconvenient, and in
the event of an accident – the computer can endanger the passengers.
This need led us to develop ScreeneX – a touch screen embedded in the
commander’s window. It saves space, and if the vehicle overturns or is
hit by an explosive charge – the laptop computer will not harm the
passengers. Our industry is going in that direction. These screens are
used in such vehicles as HUMVEEs and MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush
Protected) vehicles, where the cabin is fitted with bullet-resistant
windows.”
The development of ScreeneX is yet another example of the
creativity of the Israeli defense industry. Kibbutz Palmach Zova began
manufacturing armored glass following the first Lebanon War. As early as
during the first Intifada, some of the vehicles of the Israeli defense
and security forces were fitted with their protective products. “The
idea for the establishment of the plant had emerged at some point in the
1970s,” recounts Cohen. “In the mid-1970s, the USA began importing
vehicles made in Japan, and the US market encountered a shortage of
replacement windows and windshields for those vehicles, so someone
suggested we establish a plant and manufacture products for the US
market. We acquired the know-how for the manufacture of windshields and
windows for civilian vehicles from Finland. That’s how it all started.
After the first Lebanon war, IMOD approached us regarding the
development of armored glass for vehicles. We started researching this
field and developed technologies and products for the military market as
well. Today we have three manufacturing plants – two of them producing
transparent armor – in Israel and in the USA, plus a manufacturing plant
producing civilian vehicle glass products in Israel.”
The OSG Company is involved in major military vehicle
protection projects worldwide. Among others, it is a leading supplier of
transparent armor to the US MATV and MRAP projects, and the exclusive
supplier to the US FHTV project. Additionally, OSG supplies transparent
armor to the French Army’s PVP project, to the British Army’s HUSKY
vehicle project and to the Italian Army’s ASTRA vehicle project.
The OSG Company is also the primary supplier to the US JLTV
(Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) project – a huge project in the context
of which the US Army intends to purchase 50,000 light military vehicles
and the US Marine Corps intends to purchase several thousands. AM
General (manufacturers of the HUMVEE), Oshkosh and a joint venture of
Lockheed Martin and BAE are currently competing for the project. The OSG
Company of Kibbutz Palmach Zova cooperates with all of them.
The OSG Company also supplies transparent armor to the IDF.
Some of the platforms they fit include the David vehicles which
recently replaced the older AIL Storm (“Sufa”) Jeeps, the Namer APC as
well as Israeli Navy vessels. In the civilian market, the Company
supplies vehicle glass products to the European market as well as to the
local market in Israel. “We established the plant to serve the US
military. We are their No.1 supplier of transparent armor. The local
market is relatively small, and most of our production yield – about 80%
– is intended for export,” explains Cohen. “The products are developed
in Israel – some through cooperative alliances with MAFAT and Israeli
academia.”
The people of the OSG Company explain that their products
are based on a combination of glass and polymers, produced through a
proprietary manufacturing process. The bullet-resistant glass products
conform to the European NATO standard STANAG 4569. This Standard
specifies five degrees of ballistic resistance. Products conforming to
the highest degree, Class 5, provide protection against 25mm shells
fired at the vehicle from a distance of 500 meters with a velocity of
1258 meters per second. The same class also demands resistance to 7.62mm
tungsten bullets (M993), known in the IDF as armor-piercing rounds. The
US Army applies the ATPD 2352 Standard. This Standard is based, with
certain revisions, on two previous standards – versions F and G of
MIL-STD-810.
Another development by the OSG Company is the ADI
bullet-resistant window. “One of the problems with ballistic glass
combined with other substances involves the service life of the product.
Normally, bullet-resistant windows have to be replaced every 3 to 5
years, on average,” says Cohen. “In order to overcome this problem, we
developed a special polymer that doubles the service life of the
product. This reduces the vehicle maintenance costs and minimizes the
transparency problems that the product develops over the years. We
developed it over the last two years and it has passed all of the
required tests, including resistance to extreme conditions.”
As far as the business aspect is concerned, the people at
the OSG Company explain that the market generates a fairly stable
demand, owing to the maintenance factor. Demands in Europe have
decreased over the last few years, but the US market is their primary
market. “Our products are included in all of the platforms of the US
military – which is a major market for spare parts,” explains Cohen. “We
are also active on the naval arena, supplying transparent armor for
naval vessels in Israel and abroad, including such Far Eastern countries
like Japan and other countries. Another market involves 4x4 vehicles
for the HLS field. We provided products to the construction industry,
such as safety windows for apartment blast protection spaces. These
windows do not resist a direct impact, but they do provide a solution
for fragmentation and small arms fire. For example, they are
incorporated in IDF firing positions and watch towers.”
Future developments? “The direction in which we are
currently heading involves the use of such exotic substances as
transparent ceramics, sapphire glass and so forth. These products will
become more common down the line. They offer an advantage owing to their
ballistic resistance relative to weight. This can reduce the weight of a
window by 50%. With armored vehicles, that is the objective – reducing
weight in order to improve performance,” concludes Cohen.
Ami Rojkes Dombe
Source: http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/future-here-touch-screen-bullet-resistant-windshield
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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