BAE Systems, the global aerospace and defense company with U.S. headquarters in Rockville, was given a Top-Ten Greatest Invention award by the U.S. Army, for its contribution to the Objective Gunner Protection Kit.
“We were excited to be able to partner [with the Army] with our expertise, our formulas and our design engineering to co-develop this,” said Jeff Earley, director of business development for BAE.
Army soldiers and commanders chose the winners, which were given awards at the sixth annual ceremony. BAE’s invention gives gunners 360 degree ballistic protection, but its ballistic glass and transparent armor allows soldiers to survey their surroundings constantly.
“We received feedback from the fi eld and from the Army saying that they needed this protection kit that gave them ability to observe and see around the vehicle,” Earley said. “It was the combination of government and private sector expertise that made this a success.”
