Comments on: The Dragon Skin Circus Begins

By: jane doe

jane doe — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:21:37 +0000

i find the predanet is a fool for not letting the army wearing the dragon vest.

By: William

William — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:35:28 +0000

Well, well, the army has released their solicition for flexible armor. We will see if Dragon Skin can meet the requirements in real testing, and for that matter if anyone else can make flexible armor work and meet military requirements. It is put up or shut up time for Pinnacle.

By: trax

trax — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:51:49 +0000

why is this argument still going when the youtube movies clearly show the creator of interceptor admitting that dragon skin was by far superior?
my god, i think i just won the entire debate

By: Wembley

Wembley — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:22:58 +0000

Without independent testing, it will always look as though Murray Neal had a case, because there have been some very questionable aspects to this the Army looks set against DS.

By: Charley

Charley — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:38:33 +0000

Oh man we could surely use Troy Hurtubise right now…

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:37:56 +0000

They should simply hand out cambat gear with a fitting IBA or DS. Then make them run 5 miles.
After that the debate is over.
BTW First Dragon Skin discs were attached by wire and had severe second hit problems.

By: BT

BT — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:44:14 +0000

I think Murray Neal is wasting his time with scientific tests, hearings, and PR. Since his product failed, he needs to setup manufacturing facilities in each Congressperson’s district. This will gurantee Congress orders the Pentagon to buy these Vests regardless of their effectiveness. After all, the US Military is always buying crap that isn’t needed, or doesn’t work, or doesn’t live up to the hype. On the flip side, they can’t get what they do need, ie MRAP, UAV/UGV, thermal cameras..etc.

By: Camp

Camp — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:55:07 +0000

Personally, I still say each company should “stand behind their product” during the testing… And I do mean that literally.
Circus eh?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FaaJiYrAS68
Maybe it’s time for us to “consult the book of armaments”?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FjeJi07O7uQ
Or could it be that people just like to argue? :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=y05EmK66Gsk

By: Foreign.Boy

Foreign.Boy — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:39:51 +0000

“If I were running Dragon Skin, I’d make a few of the labor intensive, sewn pocket vests. I’d test them throughly, after revisions, I’d make a few dozen available for new Army tests.” –desmond
Desmond, I agree! Already look at their manufacturing process…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNY1MtsVwG8 (1:31)
It’s clear they already have someone laying them out by hand… I could see their vests opening up from the side revealing the sewn shut (or Velcro) plates.
Maybe it would compromise the integrity of the overlapping disks? Either way.. the system allowing it to open up would allow for ‘maintenance’ and a visual/touch inspection of the plates.

By: desmond

desmond — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:22:54 +0000

In following the Dragon Skin controversy, it seems to me that the Army’s key (ostensible) problem with Dragon Skin is that the discs can move around.
In the Army tests, high heat seemed to allow the discs to move. One of the Army test x-ray images makes me suspect the Army may have tried to create space between discs by strongly stretching the fabric.
Dragon Skin now say they are using a temperature resistant adhesive which should fix the moving disc problem. But I don’t think this will be enough to satisfy the Army. The Army can simply move the goal posts and claim that once the vests are in the field, there will be no way (short of an x-ray) to verify all the tiles are in place.
I think Dragon Skin’s only counter to this criticism is for them to abandon adhesives and start sewing individual pockets for each disc.
The Dragon Skin manufacturer has claimed that sewing individual pockets for each disc would not be possible because such a process would be far too labor intensive.
Perhaps he’s not aware of the current capabilities of automated sewing systems, or (more likely) he knows that such sewing technology would be far too expensive an investment without a massive order of vests.
If I were running Dragon Skin, I’d make a few of the labor intensive, sewn pocket vests. I’d test them throughly, after revisions, I’d make a few dozen available for new Army tests.
If the Army likes the product and places an order, DS could then afford to purchase the expensive automated sewing equipment.
I think DS has a good product that when handled with care, probably serves its users very well. DS just doesn’t seem up to the very heavy abuse levels the Army requires of all its gear. I think Dragon Skin will have completely solve the moving-disc problem if they want the politicians to force this product on the Army.