This proposal designed and manufactured an innovative shield to protect critical components of an aircraft against high velocity shrapnel from an engine burst. The concept proposed here used well-established high-performance fibres and manufacturing methods making it fit the requirements of medium to high maturity level and low manufacturing costs stated in the call. However, the combination of the latest development in quality of these materials and the fact that they meet the environment requirement as well as an innovative ballistic design takes the proposed shield concept beyond the state of the art.

The proposal came from a close collaboration between Imperial College Consultants and Swerea SICOMP. It was therefore the result of the combined skills in manufacturing structural composites for the defence and aeronautical industry as well as specific ballistic design skills. Both institutes have the necessary skills, experience and equipment to design and manufacture a successful shield. As both these institutes are non-profit research establishments actively working to advance composite technology, the materials and techniques have been chosen based on the type of treat and the aircraft integration constraints and there are no constraints to use any one particular material supplier. Publishing and dissemination of the results is also not a problem if so desired.