Ballistic armour for rigid inflatable boats
Lightweight ballistic protection for military and law enforcement RIB crews
Protection where crews operate
During patrol, interception and boarding operations, crew members can spend much of a mission close to the collar of a rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Integrating ballistic armour into the collar adds protection against defined small-arms threats in an area where personnel may be exposed.
Integris works with boatbuilders to develop armour around the vessel’s design and the crew’s operating positions. This means assessing where protection is needed alongside the craft’s weight, flotation and handling requirements.
The layout also needs to account for how crews move around the boat. Access to the helm, a clear route along the deck and room to board another vessel all help determine where armour can be integrated.
Integrated armour for Sillinger’s ALURAID range
Under an agreement with French boatbuilder Sillinger, Integris will supply ballistic armour for its ALURAID range. Sillinger’s armoured rigid collar incorporates lightweight, high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) armour from Integris. The design retains the collar’s buoyancy function while adding ballistic protection.
The armoured collar is offered as an option across the ALURAID range, from the 650 to the 1200 INTERCEPTEUR.
Tested against a defined threat
In testing for the Sillinger application, one armour panel withstood six impacts from 7.62 × 39 mm mild-steel-core projectiles at 720 m/s, with no complete penetration. The panel was 22 mm thick and had an areal density of 20.8 kg/m².
These results apply to the tested panel and ammunition. For each vessel, protection requirements depend on the expected threats, the areas that need coverage and how the armour will be integrated.
Discuss your RIB programme
Explore our broader ballistic protection for small craft.
Designing a new RIB or evaluating protection for an existing vessel? Talk to Integris about your platform, crew positions and coverage requirements.