An armor
system for defeating
rocket propelled grenade-type missiles and / or
high velocity jets created by shaped charges directed at a vehicle includes a grid layer such as a net and / or an array of slats or bars (“RPG”) spaced from an outer surface of the vehicle by support members. The grid layer has a characteristic mesh size or bar / slat spacing to disrupt the
missile firing mechanism. The
system also has a shaped layer having a plurality of tapered members formed from a
fiber-reinforced material, the tapered members positioned between the grid layer and the vehicle outer surface and having respective apex ends
proximate the distant the grid layer and base ends, the tapered members defining with adjacent tapered members a plurality of depressions opening in a direction to receive an incoming conical portion of an unexploded RPG-type
missile, or a jet emanating from an exploded RPG or other anti-armor device, and a layer of
fiber-reinforced material abutting the base ends of the tapered members. The
system may further include reactive elements disposed on surfaces of the tapered members defining the depressions to deflect impinging jets. The system may still further include one or more
metal armor
layers and one or more additional
fiber-reinforced material
layers disposed between the shaped fiber-reinforced material layer and the vehicle surface.