JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #92 - October/November 2014 - 20

defense

A unique hand-held ballistic shield
The Targa-light CX+ is a very light and
high-performance ballistic shield, easier
to manipulate and transport than its
wheeled predecessor. Its high mobility and
effective protection during delicate interventions make it an indispensable defence
tool.

T

he Targa-light CX+
is constructed from
composites of high-grade
ceramics, silicon carbide or boron carbide as well as a range
of different fibre materials,
including aramid and highperformance polyethylene. In
response to the Direction Generale de l'Armement's (DGA)
suggestion, TenCate Advanced
Armour launched this brandnew shield that was designed
in complete accordance with
the human anatomy, so as to
make it as efficient as possible.

Weight saving and
specific reinforcements
Traditional shields are
usually wheeled around on
carts because of their weight
(around 25 kilograms), which
makes for an impractical usage
on site, especially when stairs

or uneven land are encountered. Thus, TenCate Advanced
Armour's first challenge was to
reduce the total weight of the
shield by a significant amount.
In order to do so, high-performance ceramics were incorporated, so that the final product
weighed only 17.2 kilograms
without reducing its ballistic
capabilities. The monolithic ceramics ensure a homogeneous
weight distribution throughout
the shield. In order to comply
with the DGA's requirement
that the shield be tough
enough to resist high-level
firearms and other weapons,
TenCate Advanced Armour
also had to work on impact
resistance by adding other
innovations. The TenCate
Rosist™ finish, for example,
provides protection from
chemicals, water and flames
without affecting the shield's
performance in the field.

The handle was also modified
to be as practical as possible:
ambidextrous, adjustable, etc.

Launch and
market potential
Work on the Targa-light CX+
shield actually started in late
2011. While the DGA initiated the project, it also played
a major role in facilitating the
feedback from lesser heardof units. Their specific needs
helped to make a product
that would be the answer to
most of the problems encountered on site. The DGA
was a main investor, which
allowed TenCate Advanced
Armour to use the latest and
most advanced technologies to their full advantage,
making the product a unique
endeavour that should revolutionize the current niche
market.
Testing took place between

May and June 2013, with very
satisfactory results. Multiple
orders have come through
from all over the world, most
notably from Asia.
Thus, the Targa-light CX+ is
the result of many years of
experience and research into
the use of shields in tactical
situations. The specific design
and features increase the ability to manoeuvre the shield
in confined spaces. They
allow the user to lean forward
while carrying the shield,
which can even be carried
with only one hand, freeing
the other one when needed.
TenCate Advanced Armour's
goals are now to make the
shield even more efficient and
as adapted to men's needs on
site as possible. n
More information:
www.tencate.com
www.defense.gouv.fr/
dga/actualite

Fig. 1: The Targa-light CX+ shield, front and back

20 jec composites magazine / No92 October - November 2014
http://www.tencate.com http://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/actualite
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #92 - October/November 2014

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