Description
Ceramics are a leading edge of defense technology for the United States. From the NATO C-130 transport aircraft that have flown over Bosnia with a Kevlar/glass ceramic cockpit armor to the Patriot missile and the Apache helicopter, ceramics have been used in equipment for military maneuvers. High-performance ceramics are critical elements of modern weapons. Electronics and optical ceramics are essential parts of missile guidance systems, and ceramic armor protects troops in the air and on the ground.

Ceramic armor may be employed both as an applique to the outside of many lightly armored vehicles and as an integral part to the armor package on heavily armored vehicles. Ceramics break projectiles into small fragments that deflect before reaching personnel inside. Ceramics containing glass also stop the tank-killer weapons known as chemical energy (CE) munitions. Lightweight ceramics are also used in many modern military attack helicopters. The seats, sides and often the floors are equipped with ceramic armor to protect personnel from ground fire. Ceramics are also used in most military radar communication systems. The radar in the Patriot missile system is made with ceramic components that act as the eyes and ears of the missile.

The following individuals may be contacted regarding ceramic applications in the military.

James W. McCauley
Senior Research Engineer in Ceramic Materials (ST)/ARL Fellow
US Army Research Laboratory
ATTN: AMSRL-WM
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5066
410/306-0711 (phone) • 410/306-0661 (fax) • mccauley@arl.army.mil (e-mail)
Background: McCauley is an authority in ceramics used in military applications including transparent and lightweight armor, advance structural ceramic applications, powders and materials characterizations, novel processing and quality control.

Joel P. Moskowitz
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ceradyne, Inc.
3169 Redhill Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949/549-0421 x261 (phone) • 949/549-5787 (fax)
Background: Ceradyne, Inc., develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramics used for industrial, electronic, defense and consumer applications.

S. Robert Skaggs
Consultant
79 County Road 117 South
Santa Fe, NM 87506
505/455-2392 (phone) • 505/455-3181 (fax) • bobskaggs@aol.com (e-mail)
Background: Skaggs, a retired armor program manager senior materials scientist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, now works as a consultant dealing in armor design, high temperature materials, and program planning and development. He received his PhD in materials science from the University of New Mexico in 1972.