A workshop on “Explosives and Explosive Components” was organized by the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) on November 6-7, 2009 for the purpose of coordinating and widespreading R&D activities in the area of national defence. At the workshop,  Nesrin BIÇAKÇI from STM Systems Department Defence Platforms Expertise Group delivered a presentation on  “Armoured Vehicles and Trace Reduction Measures”.

In the presentation, military land vehicles, which are the most important elements threatened by explosives and weapons using explosives, were addressed under three main groups: combat vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles and support/logistics vehicles. It was stated that for land vehicles, a determining aspect is deciding on the protection level and whether the vehicle will be treaded or wheeled, depending on the use purpose.

The presentation then focused on main design criteria in armoured vehicles, emerging threats, the survival capabilities and layers of armoured vehicles, constraints to ensuring survivability, changes in the survivability approach as well as reactive armour, and elaborated on “trace/track reduction” measures applied for the outermost survival layer.

In the workshop organized for the purpose of identifying the current national R&D and production infrastructure, ensuring exchange of information on studies carried out to date and following up the technological developments taking place in the world, participants from relevant agencies/organizations and universities delivered presentations on various subjects ranging from raw materials (chemicals used), synthesis and formulation, combustion and detonation, physical and chemical analysis techniques and desensitization to trace reduction techniques, safety techniques –certification system, production technologies, lifetime observation and extension, disposal and recycling practices and additives.

For more information on the workshop, please visit http://www.mkek.gov.tr/foHaberler.aspx?iKodHaber=103   .