This course aims to critically assess the role of survivability technology and principles over a range of scenarios applied to personnel, platforms, formation and infrastructure.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • Duration5 days
  • LocationÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University at Shrivenham
  • Cost£2,250 - 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.

On successful completion of the course you will be able to:

  • Critically analyse the key factors which determine system and personal survivability in a range of operational scenarios.
  • Critically evaluate the factors influencing personal platform and formation survivability in the context of maximising the end effect.
  • Evaluate the critical parameters in supply design and application of survivability systems.

Core content

  • Counter surveillance – stealth, camouflage and deception.
  • Armour Structures – the design and application of armour systems to personnel and platforms including personal protection (human factors).  Armour materials, materials selection and strategic aspects of materials supply.
  • Vehicle design for survivability – armour systems plus future directions.
  • Non-ballistic protection – threat detection, defensive aids suites / electro-optic systems.
  • Nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical threats – detection, time distance and shielding, thermal, blast and EMP effects.
  • Nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical protection – PPE, COLPRO, hardening and decontamination.
  • Weapons effects on structures – this will include aspects of structural protection and blast.
  • Impact of operations in complex environments (e.g. urban with very short engagement timelines) and asymmetric threats (e.g. IED and mines).
  • Infrastructure security – perimeter security, security management and resilience.
  • Appreciation of potential impacts of autonomy on survivability.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards the 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

ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ Defence and Security (CDS) is a ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ 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.