Scott Nicholas
ATC Materials has received a $12.5 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency to produce an armor technology intended to shield the Standard Missile and Mk 41 vertical launch systems from impact threats during shipment.
The Transportation Protection System will be built to protect the MK 41 and extended-range SM munitions against bullet or warhead fragment impact, ATC said Tuesday.
ATC President Charles Inglefield said the company worked with the Defense Department to conceive and develop the missiles transport protection system.
The TPS is designed to incorporate a lightweight multilayer barrier technology and transport up to four SM-3 or SM-6 interceptors and comply with with DoD’s Insensitive Munitions standard.
ATC also intends for the system to help prevent infrastructure damage personnel injury that may otherwise result from explosive energy release caused by bullet and fragment impacts.
Lockheed Martin produces the Mk 41 VLS and Raytheon manufactures the Standard Missiles.
