METALITH Aircraft Revetments

METALITH aircraft revetments are protective structures, designed to protect both fixed-wing and rotary units along flight lines at forward operating bases around the world. Typically, military aircraft are surrounded by revetments on two or three sides to protect the aircraft within the cell, as well as other aircraft on the tarmac.

Typical protective benefits of METALITH aircraft revetments include:

• Protection against Sympathetic Detonation: A sympathetic detonation (SD or SYDET), also called flash over, is a usually unintended detonation of an explosive charge caused by a nearby explosion. Sympathetic detonation is caused by a shock wave, or impact of primary or secondary blast fragments. The initiating explosive is called the donor explosive, and the secondary explosion is known as receptor explosive. In case of a chain detonation, a receptor explosive can become a donor explosive. In short, aircraft revetments prevent the potential for the explosion of one aircraft to cause multiple follow on explosions of other aircraft in the flight line.
• Protection against Low-Angle, High-Velocity Fragmentation: Fragmentation and shrapnel caused by explosions and/or ordnance can cause loss of life, severe injury and damage to property and other aircraft. Revetments are emplaced around parked aircraft at Forward Operating bases to protect against such damage and destruction.
• Protection against destruction by enemy attack: In addition to the benefits referenced above, aircraft revetments provide protection against non-direct hit attacks by enemy weapons and forces.

Typical Aircraft Revetment Design