New Body Armor Technology Reduces Back Face Deformation

TenCate Advanced Armour’s Cratus Wave body armor ballistic insert redirects the pressure wave trapped between the wearer and the hard armor plates that are inserted into the front and back pockets of body armor carriers By DA Staff / 11 Nov 2022

Ballistic Protection

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
TenCate-Advanced-Armor
Follow DA

TenCate Advanced Armour has introduced the Cratus Wave, a new thin Level III body armor ballistic insert with a patented design that redirects the pressure wave trapped between the wearer and the hard armor plates that are inserted into the front and back pockets of body armor carriers, thereby reducing the back face deformation.

This product inaugurates TenCate Advanced Armour’s Trauma Reduction Technology, a patented process that will be used to make thinner plates designed to stop rifle rounds, whilst also offering the added potential benefit of reducing heat stress. 

“This technology will be an exciting game changer for military and law enforcement,” said Andrew Bonham, president of the Virginia-based company, “But adoption by the Army will require changing present-day specifications.”

The technology is a wave of precisely formed grooves on the side of the plate closest to the wearer that can redirect the pressure wave created by a projectile as it strikes the plate.

“The rapid dispersion of energy reduces the force that translates to blunt trauma. Thus, we can keep plates the same and reduce the trauma or redesign the plate and reduce the thickness as we have with the Cratus Wave,” Bonham said. “TenCate Advanced Armour has demonstrated the Cratus Wave meets National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level III test specifications, and expects to receive official certification soon.”

Energy from a stopped bullet is a hammer-like blow that dents a clay block used in testing to represent the human body. Trauma Reduction Technology reduces Back Face Deformation (BFD), a metric the industry uses as a surrogate for physiological blunt trauma which may occur when a bullet is stopped. The BFD is the indentation ballistic energy wave makes in the clay block.

“Until today, improvements in armor plates have been incremental with little significant differentiation among competing models,” said Jason Kruise, personal protection segment leader. “Using data from Army video X-rays, we could see the shockwave and how it was trapped, and we asked, ‘Why can’t we vent that energy?’ This technology is the right solution at the right time.”

Suppliers of ingredients that are used to make the armor composites have signaled they are about to introduce a new generation of materials which will help make armor even lighter. Meanwhile, the NIJ has a new performance standard pending.

“These new materials, TenCate Advanced Armour’s Trauma Reduction Technology, and a new NIJ standard should result in a new generation of rifle round protection for both law enforcement and defense groups that rely on NIJ certifications,” Kruise added.

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

GA-ASI Invests in Dutch Firms to Advance Defense Innovation After BMN

GA-ASI is set to invest in two Dutch companies following their selection at the Blue Magic Netherlands defense innovation event

Apr 25, 2025
AI-Powered Situational Awareness Platform Launched for Armored Vehicles

Maris-Tech Ltd. has introduced Diamond Ultra, a new integrated AI system designed to improve threat detection and situational awareness in armored fighting vehicles (AFVs)

Apr 25, 2025
Radiofrequency Weapon Disables Drone Swarms in Landmark Army Trial

A UK-developed radiofrequency weapon has successfully downed drone swarms in trials, showcasing a low-cost, high-impact solution to modern aerial threats

Apr 25, 2025
American Standard Circuits’ High-Reliability PCB Services

KT Technical Solutions is highlighting ASC, a vendor and trusted provider of high-performance PCB solutions with a focus on speed, quality, and application-specific expertise

Apr 25, 2025
Q&A with DEFCROS: Key Insights for the 2025 Expo

DEFCROS Founder Kristijan Ilovača discusses the expo’s rapid growth, international ambitions, and how the event aims to support defense and security innovators

Apr 24, 2025
Precision Airdrop System Receives Marketing Approval

ParaZero has received marketing approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s DECA for the DropAir™ Precision Airdrop System, developed in collaboration with Heven Drones

Apr 24, 2025

Featured Content

Q&A with DEFCROS: Key Insights for the 2025 Expo

DEFCROS Founder Kristijan Ilovača discusses the expo’s rapid growth, international ambitions, and how the event aims to support defense and security innovators

Apr 24, 2025
Ophir® FoldIR Lens Enhances Long-Range Imaging for Defense & Security Operations

The new Ophir® FoldIR 25-275mm MWIR zoom lens delivers compact, long-range imaging with low-SWaP performance for drones and small gimbal platforms

Apr 17, 2025
Textron Systems to Support Software & Payload Development for Navy’s MCM USV

Textron Systems is set to support the software development and payload integration for the Navy’s Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), focusing on future mission capabilities and advanced system integration

Apr 14, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.