美国铝业公司（Alcoa）技术中心新近开发的新型装甲厚板铝合金C79A已由达文波特（Davenport）铝业公司批量生产，并适用于制造多种装甲车，在实弹演习中表现良好，获得军方的好评。C79A合金的抗拉强度比传统合金6061-T651的高30%，具有更高的抗冲击能力，不但铝加工厂可用现行的工艺加工板材，而坦克或装甲战车厂也不用改变现行制造与装备工艺。所以用C79A合金制造的装甲车不但重量有较大减轻，而且速度有所提高，使用期限也业所延长。与5083-H133合金相比，新合金抵抗弹片模拟撞击能力（FSP）高10%。C79A合金可用于制造轻重型作战装甲车（HEMTT），抗地雷装甲车和防伏击装甲车（MRAP）。

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today the development of a new aluminum alloy armor plate solution – C79A. Designed to better protect soldiers in combat environments, C79A will be introduced for military vehicle applications at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exhibition in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

“For more than a century, Alcoa has been the world leader in aerospace alloy innovation,” said David Dobson, president, Alcoa Defense. “Almost all aerospace alloys in use today were developed by Alcoa. We are taking that same commitment to alloy innovation and applying it to the defense armor market to make the military lighter, faster and stronger.”

C79A allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use traditional welding techniques during assembly without compromising long-term vehicle performance, so it is ideal for both appliqué armor as well as integral vehicle armor. Compared to conventional armor solutions, such as 6061-T651, C79A delivers improved ballistic performance. It also increases strength by 30 percent, which enables vehicle OEMs to improve durability while reducing weight. Additionally, compared to 5083-H131, C79A offers a ten percent improvement in fragment simulation projectile (FSP) performance.

A secure, domestic source for critical military components and materials for more than a century, Alcoa produces C79A at its aluminum rolling mill in Davenport, Iowa. Since its construction in 1948, the Davenport facility has been widely recognized as one of the world’s most technologically advanced rolling mills.

AUSA Winter Symposium attendees can learn more about C79A by visiting Alcoa Defense at booth 2222.