Transparent Aluminum: Just like Scotty used to make

Just like in Star Trek, a Transparent, alumiunum based armor is being optimized by engineers at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio.

The Product is called ALON:
"ALONtm [sic] is a ceramic compound with a high compressive strength and durability. When polished, it is the premier transparent armor for use in armored vehicles, said. 1st Lt. Joseph La Monica, transparent armor sub-direction lead

'The substance itself is light years ahead of glass, he said, adding that it offers 'higher performance and lighter weight.'

Traditional transparent armor is thick layers of bonded glass. The new armor combines the transparent ALONtm [sic] piece as a strike plate, a middle section of glass and a polymer backing. Each layer is visibly thinner than the traditional layers.

ALONtm [sic] is virtually scratch resistant, offers substantial impact resistance, and provides better durability and protection against armor piercing threats, at roughly half the weight and half the thickness of traditional glass transparent armor, said the lieutenant."