blindage

Blindage is the term used to describe protective armor or shielding designed to protect people, equipment, and structures from ballistic, blast, and environmental hazards. The word is used in both French and English to denote armor plating on vehicles, ships, fortifications, or industrial installations, and can refer to permanent armor as well as temporary protective coverings.

Historically, blindage evolved from personal armor to protective casings for fortifications and vessels, and later to the thick armor plates used on armored vehicles. In land warfare, blindage on tanks and other armored fighting vehicles became essential for survivability. In modern contexts, blindage often combines multiple materials and technologies to counter different threat types while attempting to minimize weight.

Materials and configurations vary. Metallic blindage uses steel or alloy plates, while modern designs commonly incorporate composites such as ceramics, layered metals, and polymer backings to improve penetration resistance. Some systems employ reactive armor, which uses explosive layers to disrupt incoming projectiles. Design features such as sloped, spaced, or multi-layered armor are used to increase effectiveness, distribute impact, and reduce weight. Blindage can also describe protective coverings for ships, bunkers, or industrial blast walls.

Applications require balancing protection with weight, cost, and mobility. Limitations include added weight, reduced payload or speed, higher production and maintenance costs, and the need for structural reinforcement and compatibility with other systems. The goal is to achieve survivability without compromising operational effectiveness.

See also: armor, armour, armored fighting vehicle, armored fortification.