A system for protecting a region from shock waves, comprising: a sensor (22, 24) configured to detect at least one of an incoming hostile threat or electromagnetic radiation from an explosion from the hostile threat, the sensor (22, 24) being capable of predicting therefrom a vector of a shock wave from the explosion relative to a protected region and generating a trigger signal in response thereto; an inflatable enclosure configured to retain gas in a predetermined shape when the enclosure is substantially inflated by the gas; an inflation device connected to receive the trigger signal from the sensor (22, 24) and connected to the inflatable enclosure, the inflation device being configured to supply the gas to the inflatable enclosure in response to the trigger signal from the sensor (22, 24), the inflatable enclosure being shaped to have a convex surface when inflated and deployed, such that, when inflated by the gas, the retained gas diminishes an effect of the shock wave on the protected region by at least one of reflecting at least a portion of the shock wave, refracting and defocusing at least a portion of the shock wave, and absorbing at least a portion of the shock wave; wherein the inflation device is configured to fill the inflatable enclosure with the gas to at least one of a pressure above ambient pressure and a temperature at one of above ambient temperature and below ambient temperature; characterized in that: the inflation device is configured to supply the gas and particulate material dispersed through the gas to the inflatable enclosure. a sensor (22, 24) configured to detect at least one of an incoming hostile threat or electromagnetic radiation from an explosion from the hostile threat, the sensor (22, 24) being capable of predicting therefrom a vector of a shock wave from the explosion relative to a protected region and generating a trigger signal in response thereto; an inflatable enclosure configured to retain gas in a predetermined shape when the enclosure is substantially inflated by the gas; an inflation device connected to receive the trigger signal from the sensor (22, 24) and connected to the inflatable enclosure, the inflation device being configured to supply the gas to the inflatable enclosure in response to the trigger signal from the sensor (22, 24), the inflatable enclosure being shaped to have a convex surface when inflated and deployed, such that, when inflated by the gas, the retained gas diminishes an effect of the shock wave on the protected region by at least one of reflecting at least a portion of the shock wave, refracting and defocusing at least a portion of the shock wave, and absorbing at least a portion of the shock wave; wherein the inflation device is configured to fill the inflatable enclosure with the gas to at least one of a pressure above ambient pressure and a temperature at one of above ambient temperature and below ambient temperature; characterized in that: the inflation device is configured to supply the gas and particulate material dispersed through the gas to the inflatable enclosure. the inflation device is configured to supply the gas and particulate material dispersed through the gas to the inflatable enclosure.