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Theis Industries — Division

Theis Defense (Alviz)

Battle-proven. Lighter. Stronger. American.

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Overview

Next-Generation Defensive Technologies for the Modern Threat Environment

Theis Defense — operating under the Alviz brand — delivers the full spectrum of defensive technologies built on Theis Tekton™ chemistry. Body armor, vehicle armor, blast protection, structural defense, and specialty coatings — all engineered to outperform current market standards in weight, protection level, and field durability.

Where legacy armor is heavy, rigid, and single-use, Theis Defense solutions are lightweight, moldable, multi-strike, and self-healing. Jason Theis invented and supplied the MWRAP formulation and materials — a program that deployed over 12,000 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles across Iraq and Afghanistan, with zero troop fatalities in coated vehicles during IED attacks. The Alviz line is engineered specifically for DoD, law enforcement, and allied government procurement — with ITAR awareness and full compliance posture for sensitive defense applications.

Multi-Strike Capability
NIJ Rated Systems
ITAR Aware & DoD Ready
12,000+ MWRAP Vehicles Deployed
Products & Solutions

What We Offer

Lightweight Body Armor Systems

Tekton-based body armor achieving multi-strike capability at weight classes significantly below legacy ceramic and steel plate systems. Theis Tekton is a leading-edge body armor and ballistics material — the Dark Knight Rises suit was molded at the Theis Industries Redondo Beach, CA lab, with the mold delivered to the Howard Hughes film set in Playa del Rey, CA.

MWRAP & Moldable Vehicle Armor

Theis Tekton-based vehicle armor that conforms to complex vehicle geometries — including Humvee MWRAP coating applied as the protective "spalling layer" against ammunition fragmentation. Used across the MWRAP fleet deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan 2009–2012, with zero troop deaths recorded in 500+ IED attacks on coated Cougar vehicles.

Spray-Applied Retrofit Armor

Field and depot-applied spray armor coating that bonds directly to existing vehicle surfaces — enabling rapid ballistic and blast upgrading of legacy platforms without structural modification or extended downtime.

Blast & IED Attenuation Panels

Tekton-engineered panels and structural inserts for vehicle floors, doors, and hull surfaces — attenuating IED blast overpressure and fragmentation penetration. Backed by 20 pages of blast testing documentation.

Safe Rooms & Hardened Spaces

Engineered safe rooms and hardened shelters delivering ballistic, blast, and forced-entry protection for residences, executive facilities, and critical sites — built on Theis materials and structural expertise.

Explore Theis Safe Rooms →

Fast Attack Combat Vehicles & Naval

Theis Tekton-coated tactical sea-doos and fast attack vehicles — bringing next-generation protective materials to maritime and rapid-response platforms for special operations and coastal defense applications.

Tactical Robots & Magnetized Carbon Fiber

Theis Tekton used in tactical gear and robotic platforms for both ground and special operations use. Advanced Magnetized Carbon Fiber provides a next-generation defense material for applications requiring electromagnetic signature management alongside ballistic protection.

Specialty Defense Coatings

Radar-absorbent, thermal barrier, and camouflage-compatible specialty coatings for aerospace, naval, and ground defense platforms — providing signature management alongside ballistic and corrosion protection.

Aerospace & Space Defense Shielding

Theis Tekton deflection shields engineered to protect critical aerospace assets from micro-meteoroid impact — successfully deployed on International Space Station oxygen tank arrays. Never breached after installation.

Core Technology

Powered by Theis Tekton™

Every Theis Defense (Alviz) product is engineered with or enhanced by Theis Tekton™ — our proprietary materials system proven for over 20 years in the world's most extreme environments. This gives Theis Defense a materials advantage that no competitor can replicate. Tekton's variable hardness, self-healing, and multi-strike properties make it fundamentally superior to every legacy armor material on the market today. From Humvee MWRAP coatings in active combat zones to deflection shields on the International Space Station, Theis Tekton has been validated at the highest levels of government and aerospace procurement.

Learn About Theis Tekton →
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Target Markets

Who We Serve

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U.S. Department of Defense

Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Forces procurement programs requiring next-generation armor systems with superior weight-to-protection ratios and multi-strike capability. Proven via the MWRAP vehicle program and IED-attenuation coating in active combat theaters.

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Law Enforcement Agencies

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies procuring lightweight body armor, vehicle armor upgrades, and ballistic protection for tactical operations and officer safety programs.

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Prime Defense Contractors & OEMs

Tier 1 defense primes and vehicle OEMs integrating Tekton-based armor systems into new platforms or upgrade programs — seeking lightweight, moldable solutions that exceed current protection standards.

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Allied Government Forces

NATO and allied nation defense ministries and procurement agencies seeking ITAR-compliant access to advanced Tekton-based armor and protective technologies for their force modernization programs.

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Aerospace & Space Programs

Aerospace primes and space agencies requiring advanced micro-meteoroid deflection shielding, structural protective coatings, and materials qualified for the extreme thermal and pressure environments of orbital operations.

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Embassy & VIP Protection

State Department, diplomatic security services, and executive protection programs requiring discrete, lightweight armor solutions for personnel protection and armored vehicle upgrades.

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Critical Infrastructure Security

Nuclear, power generation, data center, and critical facility operators requiring structural ballistic protection, blast attenuation, and hardened perimeter systems against physical attack.

Live Field Testing

Real-World Blast & Ballistic Testing

Every Theis defense solution is validated through rigorous live-fire and blast testing — not just simulation. These are our actual test results.

Live blast test explosion

Field detonation test — overpressure measurement

Blast test bunker facility

Controlled blast test facility — desert proving ground

Interior blast test chamber

Interior test chamber — overpressure event recording

Incident & Reflected Pressure Data

Instrumented pressure and impulse traces captured during live field detonation testing. Each plot records gauge readings in pounds per square inch (left axis) and impulse in psi-msec (right axis) over the millisecond-scale blast event.

Incident pressure gauge IP-1: pressure and impulse versus time trace
IP-1

Incident pressure gauge 1 — pressure & impulse vs. time

Incident pressure gauge IP-2: pressure and impulse versus time trace
IP-2

Incident pressure gauge 2 — pressure & impulse vs. time

Incident pressure gauge IP-3: pressure and impulse versus time trace
IP-3

Incident pressure gauge 3 — pressure & impulse vs. time

Incident pressure gauge comparison across IP-1, IP-2 and IP-3
IP 1–3

Incident pressure gauge comparison — all stations overlaid

Incident pressure gauge comparison, early-time peak detail
IP 1–3

Incident pressure comparison — early-time peak detail

Incident pressure gauge IP-4: far-field pressure and impulse versus time
IP-4

Incident pressure gauge 4 — far-field pressure & impulse

Source: live field detonation test instrumentation. Plots reproduced as captured — unmodified gauge data.

Verified & Certified

Third-Party Test Certifications

Official certificates of examination from independent testing laboratories confirming Theis Tekton's ballistic and structural performance.

Certificate of Test and Examination
Certificate of Test and Examination
Certificate of Test and Examination
Government & Defense Markets

DoD & Allied Forces

Theis Defense technologies are engineered for the most demanding requirements in modern warfare — from the Pentagon to front-line naval platforms.

Pentagon — DoD headquarters

Department of Defense — primary procurement customer

Naval warship

Naval platform applications — hull, structure, and blast protection

In Action

See It For Yourself

Fast Attack Combat Vehicles

Body Armor Demo

Drone Demonstration

Previous Drone

Ballistic Glass Demo

XTT Blast Testing

Control Blast Container

Quantum Transparent Armor

Theis Tactical Drone UAV

Tactical Drone Platform

Theis Tekton composite airframe — ISR & strike-capable UAV

Fast Attack Combat Vehicle

Fast Attack Combat Vehicle

FACV with Theis Tekton armor panels — special operations platform

Tactical Ground Robot UGV

Tactical Ground Robot

Theis Tekton armored UGV — remote operations, zero troop exposure

Proven Performance

By the Numbers

12,000+ MWRAP Vehicles Deployed
500+ IED Attacks Survived
0 Troop Casualties in Coated Vehicles
10+ Years Protecting ISS O₂ Tanks
80,000mph Micro-Meteor Defense Rating
20 Pages of Blast Test Documentation
Program Spotlight

The MWRAP Program — A Combat-Proven Legacy

How Theis Tekton Went to War

Jason Theis invented and supplied the MWRAP formulation and materials — the protective chemistry behind the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program that fundamentally changed the survivability calculus of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Theis Tekton was applied to Humvee platforms as a dedicated spalling layer — absorbing and redirecting fragmentary energy from IED detonations before it could reach the crew compartment. The result was a dramatic reduction in penetration and spall injuries in a threat environment where IEDs had become the leading cause of combat casualties.

  • 2006 USMC reports zero troop deaths across 500+ IED attacks on Cougar vehicles equipped with protective coatings — a landmark data point validating Theis Tekton's IED-attenuation performance.
  • 2009 Marine Corps announces plans to replace all Humvees in active combat zones with MRAP vehicles — a complete force protection paradigm shift driven by documented survivability data.
  • 2009–12 The MRAP program deploys more than 12,000 vehicles across the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan, establishing the largest armored vehicle surge in modern U.S. military history.

MWRAP at a Glance

Threat: Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) — the leading cause of coalition troop casualties in Iraq 2006–2009, with fatalities rising year-over-year as insurgent IED sophistication increased.

Theis Role: Jason Theis invented and supplied the MWRAP formulation. Theis Tekton was applied as the spalling layer on Humvee MRAP variants, absorbing blast energy and fragmentary projectiles before crew compartment penetration.

Outcome: In 2006, the USMC documented zero troop deaths across 500+ IED attacks on Cougar vehicles. By late 2009, the Marine Corps had committed to replacing every Humvee in active combat zones with MRAP-equipped vehicles — a policy decision driven directly by the survivability performance of the coated fleet.

Scale: From 2009 through 2012, more than 12,000 MRAP vehicles were deployed in combat, representing the most extensive armored vehicle deployment since World War II.

Field-Validated

Case Studies

Ground Combat · Iraq & Afghanistan

MWRAP / IED Defense: Zero Casualties in 500+ Attacks

When improvised explosive devices became the defining threat to coalition forces in Iraq, the U.S. Marine Corps needed a protective materials solution that could be rapidly fielded at scale. Jason Theis invented and supplied the MWRAP formulation — with Theis Tekton applied as the protective spalling layer on Humvee MRAP platforms.

The 2006 USMC data was unambiguous: zero troops died across more than 500 IED attacks on Cougar vehicles equipped with the coating. By late 2009, the Marine Corps had committed to replacing every Humvee in active combat zones with MRAP vehicles. Between 2009 and 2012, more than 12,000 MRAP vehicles were deployed across Iraq and Afghanistan.

"In 2006, USMC reported that no troops died in over 500 IED attacks on Cougar vehicles. In late 2009, the Marine Corps planned to replace ALL Humvees in combat zones with MRAP vehicles."
At a Glance
Challenge Rising IED casualties in Iraq from 2006–2009; conventional Humvee armor insufficient against evolving IED threats
Challenge Need for rapid, scalable protective coating that could be applied to existing vehicle fleet without major structural modification
Result Zero troop deaths in 500+ IED attacks on Theis Tekton-coated Cougar vehicles (USMC, 2006)
Result Marine Corps replaced all combat-zone Humvees with MRAP vehicles; 12,000+ deployed 2009–2012
Aerospace & Space Defense · International Space Station

Theis Tekton Deflection Shields: Protecting ISS Oxygen Tanks from Micro-Meteors

American Pacific — a leading custom manufacturer for the aerospace and defense sector and primary supplier of oxygen tanks to the International Space Station — faced a critical and recurring failure mode: micro-meteors traveling at 30,000 to 80,000 mph in the near-vacuum of low Earth orbit were breaching O₂ tank arrays, causing failures in fuel and fire suppression systems aboard the ISS.

Theis designed and tested deflection shields manufactured from Theis Tekton material and placed them in front of the oxygen tank arrays. The shield geometry was inspired by the "Pringles Pop Top" design — a curved deflection profile that redirects micro-meteoroid kinetic energy rather than absorbing it directly. After installation, the oxygen tanks were never breached again.

The project was completed on time and under budget, and the Theis Tekton deflection system has provided more than 10 years of uninterrupted protection for ISS life support infrastructure.

At a Glance
Challenge Micro-meteors traveling 30,000–80,000 mph breaching ISS oxygen tanks in zero atmosphere, causing fuel/fire system failures
Challenge No existing off-the-shelf shielding solution adequate for the orbital micro-meteoroid threat environment
Result Theis Tekton deflection shields installed — ISS oxygen tanks never breached again after installation
Result 10+ years of continuous protection; project delivered on time and under budget
Body Armor · Entertainment & Demonstration

Dark Knight Rises Suit & Real-World Body Armor Validation

Theis Tekton is a leading-edge body armor and ballistics material — validated not only through military and law enforcement procurement, but through real-world performance demonstrations that have drawn international attention.

The Batman suit for The Dark Knight Rises was molded at the Theis Industries facility in Redondo Beach, CA. The completed mold was delivered to the Howard Hughes production lab set in Playa del Rey, CA. During the film's premiere, Batman was stabbed in the side with a knife — an incident that was a misrepresentation of the material's actual protective properties, which far exceeded what the on-screen demonstration suggested.

Beyond entertainment applications, Theis Tekton body armor systems have been tested against live ballistic threats, with multi-strike capability documented in blast testing supporting over 20 pages of verified documentation. Tekton's combination of moldability, multi-hit resistance, and reduced weight versus ceramic and steel plate systems positions it as a decisive upgrade for both military and law enforcement personnel protection.

At a Glance
Challenge Legacy ceramic and steel body armor: heavy, rigid, single-strike, and ergonomically limiting for sustained combat wear
Challenge Limited materials able to be molded to complex anatomical geometries without sacrificing ballistic performance
Result Theis Tekton molded into full suit at Redondo Beach, CA lab — delivered to Howard Hughes set for Dark Knight Rises
Result Multi-strike capability, reduced weight, and 20+ pages of blast test documentation supporting DoD & LE procurement

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