Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today the development of a new aluminum alloy armor plate solution - C79A. Designed to better protect soldiers in combat environments, C79A will be introduced for military vehicle applications at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exhibition in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
"For more than a century, Alcoa has been the world leader in aerospace alloy innovation," said David Dobson, president, Alcoa Defense. "Almost all aerospace alloys in use today were developed by Alcoa. We are taking that same commitment to alloy innovation and applying it to the defense armor market to make the military lighter, faster and stronger."
C79A allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use traditional welding techniques during assembly without compromising long-term vehicle performance, so it is ideal for both appliqué armor as well as integral vehicle armor. Compared to conventional armor solutions, such as 6061-T651, C79A delivers improved ballistic performance. It also increases strength by 30 percent, which enables vehicle OEMs to improve durability while reducing weight. Additionally, compared to 5083-H131, C79A offers a ten percent improvement in fragment simulation projectile (FSP) performance.
A secure, domestic source for critical military components and materials for more than a century, Alcoa produces C79A at its aluminum rolling mill in Davenport, Iowa. Since its construction in 1948, the Davenport facility has been widely recognized as one of the world's most technologically advanced rolling mills.
AUSA Winter Symposium attendees can learn more about C79A by visiting Alcoa Defense at booth 2222.