Bullet Resistant Armor Panels

Armor Panels / Ballistic Panels / Vehicle Armor Panels /Kevlar Ballistic Panels/ Kevlar Armor Panels/ Dyneema Armor Panels/ Spectra Shield Armor Panels/ Steel Armor Plate/ Fiberglass Armor Panels.

Our Armor Panels are the product you purchase and hope you never need, but hope to have when you need them.

There is more to selling Armor Panels than just throwing up a web site, coming up with a flashy name, setting up a Pay Pal account, and shopping cart and away you go. You wont find us on Ebay selling poor quality products just to make a buck. All of our Bullet Resistant Products are proudly made in the USA. Back in 1998 we were the first company to be a single source supplier for our Customer’s ballistic protection needs.

What sets us apart from most other companies is that we know what we sell, what product is the best for our customer’s application. Taking into account the ballistic threat, intended application, weight restrictions and most important cost.  We have the capabilities to do extensive ballistic testing and assessment to fit a customer’s needs

Unfortunately looking at other company’s websites we have seen numerous false or un educated clams that there products are superior to anything known to man and claim unrealistic ballistic performance, not supported by independent ballistic testing. All of our products are independently tested to both U.L./ Underwriters Laboratory and N.I.J. National Institute of Justus. If a company uses the word “BULLET PROOF be very suspect of them as that is armature and incorrect terminology nothing is “Bullet Proof” The correct and realistic term is “Bullet Resistant”.

This blog post is focused on our Armor Panels, both for vehicle use, and construction application, such as safe rooms, schools government buildings etc.

Below is a guide to the best armor panel application

Kevlar Armor Panels, Kevlar Vehicle Armor Panels, Kevlar Ballistic Panels are some of the terms used for Kevlar Armor. Kevlar Armor Panels are only rated for handgun protection U.L. level 1,2,and 3 and NIJ Level I, II, & IIIA. Mainly used for vehicle applications because of its lightweight and flexibility. It does provide protection from DM 51 hand grenades. It has limited uses in architectural applications mainly where a curved form is needed, due to more cost effective products that we till discuss later in this article.

Dyneema and Spectra Shield Armor Panels also know as Polyethylene Armor or Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly-Ethylene (UHMWPE). Are rated for handguns and some assault rifle rounds offers some fragmentation protection. Very lightweight, water proof, mainly used for vehicle, boats, helicopters, applications because of its lightweight, and ease of installation. These Armor Panels are very expensive, and are used where weight is the main concern, over say Steel Armor Plate.

Steel Armor Plate: is the most widely used armor panel. It is available in quite a few variations from standard AR-500, Military grades MIL-A-46100, MILA-1250 class 1 &2 MIL-A-12560, Some are referred to as “High Hard” and “Ultra High Hard” Steel armor plate is mainly used in the manufacturing of armored vehicles, hardened structures. It excels at stopping Handgun and Assault Rifle rounds to .50 cal armor piercing and above; it is very good at blast mitigation and stopping fragmentation. It can be bent shaped and welded into complex forms contouring precisely to the contours of a vehicle. Steel is very cost effective, its only drawback is weight, but properly installed weight issues can be overcome.

 Fiberglass Armor Panels: Mainly used in safe room application and structural armoring, have good multi hit capabilities good for handgun and assault rifle protection, easy to cut fabricate and install. Fiberglass when hit with a projectile or fragmentation delaminates and absorbs into the fiberglass layers. Have good soundproofing and insulation values.

These are brief descriptions of these armor systems for more information, design solutions and pricing please feel free to visit our website: http://www.bulldogdirect.com

Bulldog Automatic Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

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Bulldog Automatic Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

Custom manufactured for vehicle engine compartments: Armored Vehicles, Police, Fire, and Emergency Vehicles. Passenger Cars, 4X4 Off-road, Classic and Custom Automobiles, RV’s and more.

"Automatic" Halon 1211 Fire Suppression Systems for all types of vehicles

"Automatic" means our systems have a heat sensitive "thermal" triggering device similar to that in a commercial office building "automatic" fire suppression system.  When the heat in the area reaches the threshold of the sensor, the fire suppression system is released and you are protected from whatever heat source has caused the problem.  No switches, no deployment procedure, if you have 
heat in the compartment, you have fire protection-- it's just that simple

Halons are electrically non-conducting and are acknowledged, by a considerable margin, to be the most effective universal extinguishing agent for aircraft use. They work mainly by chemically interrupting the reaction described as the Fire Triangle (Fuel-Oxygen-Heat), which must be sustained for a fire to continue. They do not produce residues and therefore do not cause secondary damage like the 
standard powder type fire extinguisher. 


Clean Agent Gas

Bulldog’s Clean Agent Gas is simply put one of the best fire extinguishers known to man.  The term "Clean Agent Gas" refers to Halon 1211 and 1301, HFC227 and FE36 among other gas formulations that are designed to deprive oxygen from a fire situation effectively taking away the ability of a fire to ignite & burn.  This concept of fire suppression has been extremely effective for decades and is still the best way to stop fire in a closed environment and eliminating damage from the fire as well as from fighting the fire. Of all of the clean agent gas listed above, we offer Halon 1211, which is arguably the most potent for of this fire suppressant. 


Here are some facts about Bulldog’s "Clean Agent Gas" formulations: 


Clean Agent Gas has three times the fire fighting effectiveness of CO2 extinguishers.

Clean Agent Gas does not damage the fire area as "Dry Powder" extinguishers do.  The saying goes, "whatever is hit with a dry powder extinguisher, whether it is burned or not will usually need to be replaced due to damage from the caustic, corrosive dry powder itself."  We understand that in the case of fire, the first consideration is and should always be to protect life and to try to put out the fire but you also must consider life after the fire.

Clean Agent Gas is discharged as a liquid immediately converts to a gas with fast breakup into the atmosphere. This makes it easy to direct and it reaches into hard to penetrate places where a fire or its ignition source may be.

Clean Agent Gas is non-conductive of electricity and is effective on all three classes of fires
(A, B & C).


                                                


We are also able to custom design a system for special applications if needed. Please feel free to contact us.

We Have Two Systems

Small Compact: Automatic Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

Larger Format:

Automatic Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

Our Small Compact Automatic Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems

SS30-BDSH $185.00 1Lbs. Halon 1211 Straight Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger
Cylinder size: Size-13 x 2.5

SS30-BD90 $185.00 1Lbs. Halon 1211 90 Degree Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size-13 x 2.5

SS30-BDRH $245.00 1Lbs. Halon 1211 Remote Head with 4’ cable
With Straight or 90 Degree Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size- 13 x 2.5 [less cable]

Special “Under the Hood” designs for engine compartments

Brushed aluminum cylinder

Stainless Steel bracket

Pressure gauge

Thermal release guard housing bracket

Nitrogen propellant

One-year manufacturer warranty

Overall measurements:

SS30-BD straight head-- 13 x 2.5

SS30-BD 90 deg. head-- 12 x 2.5

SS30-BDR Remote-- 13 x 2.5" (less hose)

Larger Format Systems

Larger Engine Compartments in Semi trucks, Buss, RV’s and other type vehicles. This auto deploy system is charged with 2 liters of foam and nitrogen as a propellant.  Designed specifically for the larger engine compartment, is also a perfect automatic fire suppression system for other smaller engine compartment vehicles to include generator compartments.  With it's remote from the cylinder head and a 4' Teflon lined braided stainless hose these system are versatile and effective.

BD-SS50-SH $345.00 3 Lbs. Halon 1211 Straight Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger
Cylinder size: Size-18.5” x 3”

BD-SS50-90 $345.00 3 Lbs. Halon 1211 90 Degree Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size-18.5” x 3”

3 lb. Halon 1211 fire extinguishing in rechargeable D.O.T. approved cylinder.

Nitrogen propellant to guard against loosing pressure

Automatic release Standard 286F temperature-trigger.
Optional 165F temperature trigger (if specified.)

Available in straight or 90 deg. head configuration (please specify)

Full 1 year warranty 


BD-SS100-SH $375.00 2 Liter. Halon 1211 Straight Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger
Cylinder size: Size-17” x 4.25”

BD-SS100-90 $375.00 2 Liter. Halon 1211 90 Degree Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size-17” x 4.25”

BD-SS100AF-SH $375.00 2 Liter. AFFF Foam Straight Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger
Cylinder size: Size-17” x 4.25”

BD-SS100AF-90 $375.00 2 Liter. AFFF Foam 90-Degree Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size-17” x 4.25”

BD-SS100AF-RH $415.00 2 Liter. AFFF Foam Remote Head

165F or 286 F temperature trigger

Cylinder size: Size-17” x 4.25” [4’ hose]

Run Flat Tire Inserts: Ground Combat Technology

Bulldog Direct: Run Flat Tire Inserts:  

Article in Ground Combat Technology


We are pleased to announce that we have been included in  the May / June 2011 Article in Ground Combat Technology. Military Tires Get New Mission. A large part of our business is dedicated to Run Flat Tire Inserts for both Government, Military and personal vehicle safety.

 Written by Henry Canaday

 GCT 2011 Volume: 2 Issue: 2 (May/June)

Military Tires Get New Mission



Ground vehicles still run predominantly on wheels, not tracks. That means tires must be tough, durable and maintain traction on a variety of surfaces. Increasingly, it means better tires should help cut fuel use too. Even the toughest tires are punctured sometimes, so run-flat equipment enabling continued movement away from an ambush, explosion or other tight spot is also highly desirable. Goodyear is the biggest supplier of tires to the U.S. military by a sizable margin. “We are the sole supplier on the Humvee, and there are tens of thousands of Humvees in operation,” noted Maylon Carroll, general manager, government and military sales. Goodyear has been the sole supplier since the inception of the HMMWV program, which is now in its third version.

“We are also on the medium tactical vehicle platform,” Carroll said. “BAE Systems is winding down on that and Oshkosh won the re-bid, and we are on that.” Goodyear also supplies tires for a few mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles—for example, on the rear of Navistar’s MaxxPro wrecker MRAP. And Goodyear is one of two approved sources of tires for the family of medium tactical vehicles.

Vehicle manufacturers select tires for their products, but the government must approve the choice. Approvals come in two buckets: original equipment (first-fit) and sustainment. “In most cases there is more than one choice for sustainment. About 90 percent of tactical sustainment tires are Goodyear or Michelin,” Carroll said.

Goodyear has built its success over 100 years in supplying the U.S. military and still makes all its tires in the United States. As an American-owned company, Goodyear can work extensively with Sandia National Laboratories on modeling performance of tires and alternative tread designs.

“We are known for robust tread design,” said Technical Account Manager John Warchol. “We can take our commercial research and apply it to the unique needs of the military.” Treads designed for military uses must handle all kinds of surfaces, highway, cross-country, mud, sand and emergency situations. “If it is stuck, you must be able to lower the inflation and get out of the way,” Warchol explained.

One distinctive advantage is Goodyear’s Durawall composite on tire sidewalls. Used on HMMWVs, Durawall yields a 30 to 40 percent increase in puncture protection and resistance to cutting by curbs.

Military customers increasingly seek fuel economy. Goodyear has been selected to partner with Ricardo on development of a new vehicle under the fuel-efficient ground vehicle demonstrator program. This FED program will seek to alter engines, exploit composite construction and make other changes to cut fuel use dramatically. “They are looking to Goodyear to develop a tire that can reduce fuel consumption 4-6 percent,” Warchol said. The FED effort is aimed at a possible replacement for the massively deployed HMMWV.

One way to get fuel burn down is to adapt a rolling-tread compound used in Goodyear commercial tires. Some changes will be required because the military has special requirements for handling gravel chips. Goodyear can also go to a larger tire, 22 inches rim diameter and inflated to higher pressure, to improve fuel efficiency.

Mileage is the primary focus now. “The military wants to go faster with heavier weight, but with less fuel,” Carroll said. Still, Goodyear constantly works on other improvements, such as resistance to ballistics and ability to handle failures. The company’s DuraSeal technology helps on these fronts. Goodyear does not make run-flats, but Carroll notes that tires and run-flat technology must be jointly tested to ensure compatibility.

“We and Goodyear dominate the military wheeled market,” said Jonathan “Hoot” Wade, technical manager for Michelin military products. Goodyear may keep all those HMMWVs humming, but Michelin dominates the heavy-wheeled military market.

This market includes Oshkosh’s heavy equipment transport, the heavy extended mobility tactical truck, Oshkosh’s palletized loading system, General Dynamics Strykers and most MRAPs. “There are now many MRAP variants, and most have tires by Michelin,” Wade explained. Michelin tires are also on Oshkosh’s MRAP all-terrain vehicle. The reason for these choices? Wade argues that Michelin simply makes the best on- and off-road tires. “They are durable and tough and fit well with the mission profiles of the military.”

Wade said military customers over the last six years have sought to increase the load on each tire. “They want it go faster, increase load and reduce inflation pressure. Fortunately, our tires have been properly sized for vehicles. I always tell vehicle manufactures if they think the maximum load per tire will be 10,000 pounds, get a tire that can handle 14,000 pounds. Then you can reduce the inflation pressure.”

Fuel economy, improved by reducing a tire’s rolling resistance, has become more important for both commercial and military tire buyers. Wade said it is most important for commercial buyers because of the high annual mileage put on, for example, truck tires. “In the military, even though delivered fuel costs more, they don’t put as many miles on the vehicles, so it is not as quite as important.”



Finally, the military often wants the ability to operate with reduced inflation. “When you go off road, you can reduce inflation so you get a bigger footprint. There is less pressure per square inch, but with a bigger footprint you can still maintain control.”

Michelin also makes tires for other nations’ military vehicles. Wade said these forces tend to follow the U.S. lead in tire requirements.

Due to very demanding conditions and dangers posed by an immobilized vehicle, the military often uses run-flat devices with even the best tires. A run-flat is a specially made tire or auxiliary tire equipment that enables the vehicle to continue to be driven with punctured tires, if at reduced speed and for a limited distance.

Bulldog Direct Protective Systems makes two basic types of run-flats, President Dave Applegate said. Bulldog’s composite run-flat (CRF) tire insert provides flat-tire mobility for pneumatic tires. Special composite material reduces friction and heat buildup inside the flat.

The CRF is mounted inside a tubeless tire on traditional wheels using normal mounting tools. Each CRF is custom-built to meet load rating, distance requirements and rim specifications. The CRF can handle the weight of heavily armored vehicles. Made from a ballistic composite, the CRF can be reinstalled even when tires have been changed.

Bulldog also offers Rodgard run-flat inserts, which are made from two components: a roller and a runner. The runner is securely attached to the wheel in the drop center and provides a track for the roller to rotate around the wheel at the same speed as the tire, reducing friction and heat buildup. The Rodgard is highly resistant to ballistic attacks and can handle heavier loads than the CRF, but it is harder to install and more costly.

Rodgard gives vehicles with flat pneumatic tires much more maneuverability and control at high speeds. Special bearing interfaces and lubricant systems prolong its longevity. The Rodgard holds the tire tread and sidewall off the wheel rim, preventing it from being destroyed or coming off the wheel. Because the independent roller allows the tire to rotate at the same rate as the wheel, it minimizes heat buildup.

These Bulldog run-flats, offered for commercial uses, have been adapted for military uses. “For military vehicles, anything you see we are on it,” Applegate said. “That includes all Humvees and MRAPs and certain trucks.” ♦

Bulldog Direct: Article in Ground Combat Technology

Bulldog Direct: Article in Ground Combat Technology


We are pleased to announce that we have been included in  the May / June 2011 Article in Ground Combat Technology. Military Tires Get New Mission. A large part of our business is dedicated to Run Flat Tire Inserts for both Government, Military and personal vehicle safety.

 Written by Henry Canaday

 GCT 2011 Volume: 2 Issue: 2 (May/June)

Military Tires Get New Mission



Ground vehicles still run predominantly on wheels, not tracks. That means tires must be tough, durable and maintain traction on a variety of surfaces. Increasingly, it means better tires should help cut fuel use too. Even the toughest tires are punctured sometimes, so run-flat equipment enabling continued movement away from an ambush, explosion or other tight spot is also highly desirable. Goodyear is the biggest supplier of tires to the U.S. military by a sizable margin. “We are the sole supplier on the Humvee, and there are tens of thousands of Humvees in operation,” noted Maylon Carroll, general manager, government and military sales. Goodyear has been the sole supplier since the inception of the HMMWV program, which is now in its third version.

“We are also on the medium tactical vehicle platform,” Carroll said. “BAE Systems is winding down on that and Oshkosh won the re-bid, and we are on that.” Goodyear also supplies tires for a few mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles—for example, on the rear of Navistar’s MaxxPro wrecker MRAP. And Goodyear is one of two approved sources of tires for the family of medium tactical vehicles.

Vehicle manufacturers select tires for their products, but the government must approve the choice. Approvals come in two buckets: original equipment (first-fit) and sustainment. “In most cases there is more than one choice for sustainment. About 90 percent of tactical sustainment tires are Goodyear or Michelin,” Carroll said.

Goodyear has built its success over 100 years in supplying the U.S. military and still makes all its tires in the United States. As an American-owned company, Goodyear can work extensively with Sandia National Laboratories on modeling performance of tires and alternative tread designs.

“We are known for robust tread design,” said Technical Account Manager John Warchol. “We can take our commercial research and apply it to the unique needs of the military.” Treads designed for military uses must handle all kinds of surfaces, highway, cross-country, mud, sand and emergency situations. “If it is stuck, you must be able to lower the inflation and get out of the way,” Warchol explained.

One distinctive advantage is Goodyear’s Durawall composite on tire sidewalls. Used on HMMWVs, Durawall yields a 30 to 40 percent increase in puncture protection and resistance to cutting by curbs.

Military customers increasingly seek fuel economy. Goodyear has been selected to partner with Ricardo on development of a new vehicle under the fuel-efficient ground vehicle demonstrator program. This FED program will seek to alter engines, exploit composite construction and make other changes to cut fuel use dramatically. “They are looking to Goodyear to develop a tire that can reduce fuel consumption 4-6 percent,” Warchol said. The FED effort is aimed at a possible replacement for the massively deployed HMMWV.

One way to get fuel burn down is to adapt a rolling-tread compound used in Goodyear commercial tires. Some changes will be required because the military has special requirements for handling gravel chips. Goodyear can also go to a larger tire, 22 inches rim diameter and inflated to higher pressure, to improve fuel efficiency.

Mileage is the primary focus now. “The military wants to go faster with heavier weight, but with less fuel,” Carroll said. Still, Goodyear constantly works on other improvements, such as resistance to ballistics and ability to handle failures. The company’s DuraSeal technology helps on these fronts. Goodyear does not make run-flats, but Carroll notes that tires and run-flat technology must be jointly tested to ensure compatibility.

“We and Goodyear dominate the military wheeled market,” said Jonathan “Hoot” Wade, technical manager for Michelin military products. Goodyear may keep all those HMMWVs humming, but Michelin dominates the heavy-wheeled military market.

This market includes Oshkosh’s heavy equipment transport, the heavy extended mobility tactical truck, Oshkosh’s palletized loading system, General Dynamics Strykers and most MRAPs. “There are now many MRAP variants, and most have tires by Michelin,” Wade explained. Michelin tires are also on Oshkosh’s MRAP all-terrain vehicle. The reason for these choices? Wade argues that Michelin simply makes the best on- and off-road tires. “They are durable and tough and fit well with the mission profiles of the military.”

Wade said military customers over the last six years have sought to increase the load on each tire. “They want it go faster, increase load and reduce inflation pressure. Fortunately, our tires have been properly sized for vehicles. I always tell vehicle manufactures if they think the maximum load per tire will be 10,000 pounds, get a tire that can handle 14,000 pounds. Then you can reduce the inflation pressure.”

Fuel economy, improved by reducing a tire’s rolling resistance, has become more important for both commercial and military tire buyers. Wade said it is most important for commercial buyers because of the high annual mileage put on, for example, truck tires. “In the military, even though delivered fuel costs more, they don’t put as many miles on the vehicles, so it is not as quite as important.”



Finally, the military often wants the ability to operate with reduced inflation. “When you go off road, you can reduce inflation so you get a bigger footprint. There is less pressure per square inch, but with a bigger footprint you can still maintain control.”

Michelin also makes tires for other nations’ military vehicles. Wade said these forces tend to follow the U.S. lead in tire requirements.

Due to very demanding conditions and dangers posed by an immobilized vehicle, the military often uses run-flat devices with even the best tires. A run-flat is a specially made tire or auxiliary tire equipment that enables the vehicle to continue to be driven with punctured tires, if at reduced speed and for a limited distance.

Bulldog Direct Protective Systems makes two basic types of run-flats, President Dave Applegate said. Bulldog’s composite run-flat (CRF) tire insert provides flat-tire mobility for pneumatic tires. Special composite material reduces friction and heat buildup inside the flat.

The CRF is mounted inside a tubeless tire on traditional wheels using normal mounting tools. Each CRF is custom-built to meet load rating, distance requirements and rim specifications. The CRF can handle the weight of heavily armored vehicles. Made from a ballistic composite, the CRF can be reinstalled even when tires have been changed.

Bulldog also offers Rodgard run-flat inserts, which are made from two components: a roller and a runner. The runner is securely attached to the wheel in the drop center and provides a track for the roller to rotate around the wheel at the same speed as the tire, reducing friction and heat buildup. The Rodgard is highly resistant to ballistic attacks and can handle heavier loads than the CRF, but it is harder to install and more costly.

Rodgard gives vehicles with flat pneumatic tires much more maneuverability and control at high speeds. Special bearing interfaces and lubricant systems prolong its longevity. The Rodgard holds the tire tread and sidewall off the wheel rim, preventing it from being destroyed or coming off the wheel. Because the independent roller allows the tire to rotate at the same rate as the wheel, it minimizes heat buildup.

These Bulldog run-flats, offered for commercial uses, have been adapted for military uses. “For military vehicles, anything you see we are on it,” Applegate said. “That includes all Humvees and MRAPs and certain trucks.” ♦