SKYDEX to supply Stryker protection

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CENTENNIAL, Colo., May 20 (UPI) -- SKYDEX Technologies of Colorado and General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada have struck a deal for blast-mitigating decking for Stryker Double V-Hull vehicles.

Under the arrangement, SKYDEX will supply its Convoy Deck blast-mitigating vehicle decking material for 200 Strykers deploying to Afghanistan.

The monetary value of the contract was not disclosed, but SKYDEX called it a multimillion-dollar deal.

The SKYDEX Convoy Deck has already been installed in thousands of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the Buffalo, Cougar and Oshkosh M-ATV. Last year General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada ordered SKYDEX's blast-mitigating decking for 550 of its Stryker vehicles now in service in Afghanistan.

"At SKYDEX, we are all about saving war fighters' lives and protecting things that matter," said SKYDEX President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Buchen. "IED (improvised explosive device) blasts cause the great majority of casualties in Afghanistan and our decking significantly improves the survivability for the occupants."

SKYDEX said independent testing has demonstrated its blast-mitigating technology greatly reduces the threat of lower leg injuries by diminishing the force of an IED blast reaching personnel aboard an armored vehicle.

Adding SKYDEX decking drastically reduces the chance of injury to about 10 percent, it said.