The entire hull of the Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform (ACAVP) tank is manufactured from E-glass epoxy, a plastic/fibre-glass composite material strong enough to protect its crew from rifle and artillery fire but making it 10% lighter than an equivalent in-service metallic-hulled tank. The prototype vehicle was developed by the British Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and was first demonstrated in March 2000. It weighs just 24 tonnes (52,910 lb). To provide protection from other tanks additional metal armour is mounted on the outside of the vehicle. Although the tracks and many of the fittings on the ACAVP are made of metal, there are no metal components in the integral structure of the vehicle. Composite hulls are being developed due to weight advantages over traditional metalic equivalents. The hull is strong enough on its own to withstand rifle fire and flying shrapnel, but additional metal armour can be added as required. The basic vehicle without any additional metallic armour weighs 21 tonnes.