It has been over 25 years since the Unidirectional Armor Concept came to light. Under the AlliedSignal's Spectra Shield LCR name, an ultrahigh strength polyethylene fiber in a 0/90 construction showed its potential in the soft armor business. The LCR systems diversified immediately into a PCR system addressing the hard armor market with even better potential. DSM with their Dyneema UD system followed soon after. The UD concept disruption of the woven fabrics market for armor applications did not happen overnight, however its success was unavoidable. The UD Armor concept came as a result of unsuccessful attempts to provide equivalent woven PE products to the existing aramid woven armor systems (Kevlar was the majority).
The UD disruption came as we thought of new ways to maximize the use of an emerging fiber. For over 25 years no major "disruptive phenomena" has occurred within the armor industry...so far just small improvements. The UD systems are becoming the Kevlar woven of the 80's. The opportunity to come up with disruptive and leapfrog improvements in armor systems is around the corner......it could come in a number of ways (processing, designing, hybridizing, implementing and /or adopting new systems or technologies). This will come by combining and adopting a new way of thinking by the people and organizations that have kept know how and personnel with open innovation capability and a "can do attitude". As the product improvements accelerate demand for better systems, threats are changing and accelerating in their own development. The environment and operating theaters are changing, the operators are changing......all aspects are accelerating. Our objective is to keep a step ahead and identify companies willing to take risks, to disrupt and diversify into an accelerated growth path. Time is of essence.