Development for the next generation of body armor got a boost yesterday when a Congressional committee ordered the Defense Department to issue a report within the next 180 days on its strategy to reduce the weight of body armor by at least 20 percent.
The House Armed Service Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee wants the military to invest in research in developing new materials for body armor rather than rely on ones already in existence.
In 2011, a federally funded report found “the only way to achieve significant reductions, 20 percent and higher, without sacrificing safety and survivability would be through robust, sustained R&D funding over a number of years that focuses on developing new materials, as well as pursuing a modular, tailorable approach to body armor systems.”
Body armor has long been a focus for the military and plenty of lawmakers as the Defense Department tries to develop better ways to protect troops. The military has seen improvements throughout the past decade, but there is still interest in significantly reducing the weight.
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Armor Works will soon offer a new line of ballistic knee pads designed to shield soldier’s and Marine’s knee caps from enemy AK-47 fire.
The Arizona-based armor firm showed off a Level 3A version of the new ballistic knee pads on the Shot Show floor. Level 3A protects against 9mm rounds and shrapnel. A more protective version capable of stopping 7.62 x 39mm will be available soon, said William Perciballi, president and founder of Armor Works.
The new knee protection is the result of an 18-month effort with PEO Soldier to continue developing “extremity protection” options for soldiers in combat.
“For law enforcement, we are offering a level 3a, and for the military we are offering an assault-rifle version that is being tested right now,” Perciballi said. “It’s a good application for composite armor because composites have very good shaping capabilities. … We are adapting our military composite armor technology to this product where we mold the product to shape and come up with a ballistic component that hopefully people think is comfortable.”
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RG has released another picture of their armor carrier. Designed for overt or covert work, the advise they have “…covered everything we can think of with the RG LVR and will be introducing it at SHOT Show next month…”
It will be available for purchase shortly after SHOT, though the final price has not been confirmed. The carrier has the organic capability to run 8 magazines and contains both a Kangaroo Pouch and Admin Pouch as well “…extras [they] won’t mention yet…”
The Rogue Gunfighter LVR is made in America.
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This is great news for everyone who wants to be a steely-eyed snake-eating doorkicker but can’t grow the kevlar face brush. It’s an insulated neoprene ski mask beard. Combine it with some ballistic goggles and a disapproving glare and you’re good to go.
Beardski is made of thermal fleece, with a waterproof lining to keep your poor naked face warm and dry.
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U.S. Special Operations Command is recalling thousands of body armor plates after discovering a manufacture’s defect that could put operators at risk. At the same time defense industry experts, are questioning whether SOCOM may have added to the risk by searching for the lightest plates possible.
Throughout the war, elite troops have worn body armor known as the Special Operations Forces Equipment Advanced Requirements, or SPEAR, made by Ceradyne Defense. The lightweight, ceramic plates have proven to be effective at stopping enemy rifle bullets and weigh significantly less than the conventional Army’s Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert, or ESAPI.
A little less than a year ago, government inspectors discovered a defect in Ceradyne’s new SPEAR Gen III plates. The special, metal “crack arrestor” in the back of the plate began separating or “delaminating” from the plate’s ceramic material. The arrestor was designed to reduce the spreading of cracks in the ceramic when dropped – a common characteristic of all ceramic body armor plates.
SOCOM officials did not respond to questions from Military.com by press time and Ceradyne officials said that a clause in the company’s contract with SOCOM prohibits them from talking about the issue.
Read the article in its entirety.
There’s been a lot of talk about the Team Wendy helmets and their various features. Here’s a shot of the EXFIL from Team Wendy of the T-slots on the EXFIL with a wide variety of hardware fasteners and screws attached.
“We designed the T-slots on the EXFIL to allow for easy attachment of nearly any accessory. We have been collecting and trialing various fasteners available from any hardware store. The picture shows our EXFIL with everything from a snap and retention bolt to a nylon screw. Happy fastening!!!” Team Wendy
http://www.teamwendy.com/store/products/EXFIL%E2%84%A2-Tactical-Bump-Helmet.html
More on the article run earlier today.
“Many are asking for photos of the back of the Rogue Gunfighter LVR (Low Vis Rig). There is a small admin pack in the small of the back and mag pouches on the left and right rear. The LVR mag pouches will hold 223 or 308 Mags. There is also a drag strap. No need to buy pouches that need to be added, these are built in and are elastic so they can hold different items. Also, there are small drain holes at the bottom of each pouch so they won’t hold water, sand, dirt, etc. Pricing and availability will be provided soon. Thanks for all the support.” (Rogue Gunfighter)
