Patent ID: 8879877

Claim:
A fiber optic cable for tactical applications comprising: at least one optical fiber element; a layer of aramid strength members; and a jacket disposed over said layer of aramid strength members and at least partially coupling with said aramid strength members, wherein said cable is configured to meet an attenuation level, wherein said cable is required to meet a first predetermined minimum bend radius, wherein said layer of aramid strength members is wound at a lay length equal to or lesser than said first predetermined minimum bend radius of said cable, so that said layer of aramid strength members, that are at least partially coupled with said jacket disposed thereover, are substantially fixed at a sufficient angle to a longitudinal direction of said optical fiber elements such that said partially coupled aramid strength members do not crush into said at least one optical fiber element during bending, and wherein said layer of aramid strength members is wound at a lay length that is substantially in the range of 0.75 to 1 times the first predetermined minimum bend radius so that a bend radius of said cable is substantially twice said first predetermined minimum bend radius while simultaneously meeting said attenuation level.