Defensive Firing Positions (DFP)

Fighting positions, sometimes referred to as "foxholes", have remained relatively unchanged since their widespread use in World War II. The basic premise of a fighting position is simple -- provide a stable platform to engage the enemy while protecting occupants from small arms fire and explosives.

Defencell™ barriers are a 100% textile, next-generation personnel protection system that could potentially change the landscape of expeditionary warfare. This light weight cellular containment system can be installed in about 20 minutes, and is designed for troop protection in remote locations.

The effectiveness of a defensive fighting position is often limited by the amount of time available for preparation and construction. Defencell minimizes deployment time without compromising safety. Four DT1 units can easily be carried in a "ruck" with other units strapped to the outside as needed.

Defencell units can quickly be installed in four simple steps:

1. Unpack
2. Pull into shape
3. Fill with local sand, gravel, or rock
4. Stomp down to compact

Within minutes, troops can build individual or multiple man fighting positions, machine gun encampments, anti-air emplacements, and tripod-mounted firing positions. Because Defencell is 100% textile, it can be cut and shaped to create custom primary and secondary fields of fire. The geotextile cellular construction is also easy to conceal using natural or man-made camouflage.

Fighting Positions at a Glance

• Man portable or air droppable
• Up to 10 times lighter than standard metal gabions
• Five times less transport volume than metal gabions
• Non-metallic construction minimizes secondary shrapnel, radio frequency interference, and thermal signatures
• Proven construction techniques in operational conditions
• Compacted for additional stability
• Designed for long term deployment
• Can be easily disassembled in a "leave nothing behind" situation

Defencell Fighting Position vs. Ballistics

Traditional "Foxholes" were dug into the ground with the best ballistic protection provided in the below ground section. The use of sandbags to enhance such structures dates back to World War I. These options relied on flowable fill (sand or soil), making them virtually useless in rocky or mountainous regions. Defencell's cellular containment structure can be filled with relatively large rock and can provide a stable vertical wall from which to fight.

Many more permanent fighting positions rely on metal baskets (gabions) or concrete structures to protect against ballistics. While they are effective at stopping small arms, these structures can cause lethal secondary fragmentation when struck by projectiles.

Defencell systems use no metal or rigid plastic parts, minimizing the risk of secondary fragmentation and radio frequency interference. Each Defencell barrier type has been independently tested to ensure adequate protection against small arms up to 14.5mm and .50 caliber, as well as near-misses by heavy mortars and other fragmentation weapons.

Unlike sandbags, Defencell units do not require a specific building technique to maximize its effectiveness. Defencell is designed for compacted fill to provide long term stability and increased strength vs. ballistics.