This article was taken from the March 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
The Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO) Laboratory for Ballistics Research is where armaments and the materials that can resist them are put through their paces. It occupies a 36-hectare site near The Hague in the Netherlands, where 25 workers test anything ballistics-related, from bulletproof vests to anti-tank warheads.
Each day they match personal protection, blast-proof glass and building materials against bombs, bullets and blades. Clients include the military and the civilian firm that makes body armour for your jaunt to Baghdad.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
