Modern military operations require advanced protective equipment that can scale according to the needs of different situations. At the Modern Day Marine Exhibition in Quantico, VA this past September, Ceradyne, in conjunction with Gravikor, announced the completion of an advanced technology HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) RECAP prototype that accomplishes this critical objective.

The prototype incorporates an advanced spaceframe design for a vehicle crew cab and provides the versatility to scale armor applications for various missions. Capable of going from traditional canvas doors to a full “Frag Kit” protection level, this solution also incorporates a blast shield of advanced materials under the crew cab. The combination supports expeditionary amphibious operations as well as long-term storage aboard ships.

The spaceframe technology provided on the HMMWV chassis will accommodate a variety of uses. It can adjust to no-armor or light-armor applications. If the battlefield threat is more lethal, the crew can increase the level of protection by changing the armor solution applied to the frame.

This is the only solution currently available for evaluation that delivers “scalable armor” that matches crew protection levels with the mission. Better, lighter, and more cost effective armors can be accommodated as they are developed.

Here’s an image of the prototype: