American AGYS-2 glass fiber used in British car

According to reports, the American AGY S-2 glass fiber is being used in the new Ocelot Light Protection Patrol Vehicle (LPPV), which provides structural enhancement and performance. This vehicle was developed by FPE for the British Ministry of Defense.

Ocelot's design goal is to meet the requirements of the UK Department of Defense's LPPV program and provide unprecedented performance for vehicles of this specification.

The British Ministry of Defence selected Ocelot's developer FPE (a subsidiary of Force Protection Industries of the United States) to undertake the contract for the manufacture of Ocelot. FPE has received the first order of 200 Ocelot patrol cars, which will be delivered in 2011. It is expected that orders of the same size will follow.

The personnel compartment in this car is made of epoxy prepreg of S-2 glass fiber. The ability of this composite to suppress and absorb explosive gas waves is much stronger than that of metal.

The UK Department of Defense’s LPPV program requires a high level of protection against **, landmines, and roadside **, and AGY's S-2 fiberglass can help achieve this goal.

In traditional light armored vehicles, the metal skin of the body is backed with a layer of composite material that serves as an anti-peel lining to reduce the effects behind the armor. The body of Ocelot itself is made of composite material, which greatly reduces the need for anti-peel lining and further reduces the weight of the vehicle. The composite material body uses S-2 fiberglass, which also provides a high level of fire, smoke, and anti-virus capabilities that are not available in many of the more expensive high-performance fibers.