This module can be taken as a Short Course for Credit or a Standalone Short Course.

Please go to the 'Upgrade to a professional qualification' section for more information.

This one week module provides the underpinning science to aspects of military survivability pertaining to blast, and ballistic impact including armour technology. Ballistic and explosive effects demonstrations are included.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • Duration5 days
  • LocationCranfield University at Shrivenham
  • Cost£2,350 - Short Course for Credit fee 

    £1,925 - Standalone Short Course fee

Course structure

Lectures, practical sessions, demonstrations, computer modelling, hands-on examination of vehicles and body armour.

What you will learn

This course is designed to give a comprehensive understanding of armour technology with respect to vehicles, personnel and force protection.

Core content

  • Armour defeat,
  • Armour materials,
  • Stress waves and shock,
  • Human vulnerability (ballistic and blast),
  • Body armour,
  • Armour design,
  • ERA,
  • Mines and IEDs,
  • Vehicle design to resist mines and IEDs,
  • Blast waves in air,
  • Penetration prediction,
  • Armour ballistic response demonstrations.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards either the Defence and Security (Engineering) MSc, Gun Systems Design MSc or Military Vehicle Technology MSc.

Find out more about short course credit points.

Who should attend

This course is suitable for those with a background in science or engineering, procurement and/ or research and development. Industrial researchers and MoD employees working in vehicle or personal survivability, armour design or procurement of vehicle and personal armour will find this course useful.

Location and travel

Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.

Shrivenham itself lies in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse, close to the M4 motorway which links London and South Wales. It is 7 miles from Swindon, the nearest town, which lies off the M4 at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.

Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London less than two hours away by car.

All visitors must be pre-booked in at reception by the person they are visiting on the campus.

For further location and travel details

How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.