Fiberglass armor panels that incorporate printed electronic antenna for communications have been successfully tested by Applied Nanotech Inc.

The multi-function armor eliminates the need for multiple high-profile communications antenna structures on military vehicles and ships, and also has a jamming capability to block radio signals, such as those used to remotely trigger explosive devices.

The technology employs two wideband low-profile antennas capable of carrying signals at multiple frequencies and was developed by ANI with Armortex -- a manufacturer of bullet- and blast-resistant products -- the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Villanova University.

A federal Small Business Technology Transfers program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, promoted the project.

"This has been a challenging yet exciting program to take a passive composite material and create a complex antenna structure that not only provides ballistic protection but also may help defeat improvised explosive devices and other threats," said Dr. Aly Fathy, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT Knoxville.