The Army has issued an industry-wide request for a new kind of body armor that can defeat even more powerful rounds than the current ceramic plate and has opened the door for the new armor construction that includes flexible systems many say are more comfortable than today’s vests.
The new armor insert, dubbed “XSAPI,” is intended stop armor-piercing rounds more deadly than the ones the current “enhanced small arms protective insert” can defeat, will weigh less than a pound more than today’s ESAPI and could have more coverage than the rigid ceramic plates currently fielded to U.S. troops in combat.
The Army’s latest solicitation — dated June 20 — marks yet another chapter in the ongoing debate over allegations that the Army has ignored armor technology that could yield more protection and comfort than its current “Interceptor” vest. In May, an NBC investigative report raised questions over whether a certain type of body armor called “Dragon Skin” was stronger than the Interceptor — which is worn by most American troops in the field.
The NBC report — and the Army counter-attack that followed — gained the attention of the top lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee, which held a hearing on the subject June 6 and demanded a new set of tests to prove once and for all whether Dragon Skin — or other armor using similar technology — was better than Interceptor.
Dragon Skin employs a flexible system of interlocking ceramic disks that the manufacturer, Fresno, Calif.-based Pinnacle Armor, says is more comfortable and can endure more rifle shots than Interceptor. The ESAPI employs a series of rigid ceramic plates inserted into the front, back and sides of the Interceptor “outer tactical vest.”
After the congressional hearing, the Army revised its earlier May 27 request for new armor to test, adding the XSAPI specs and opening the offer to flexible, or “scalar,” systems. The Army also extended the period for manufacturers to submit their proposals by 30 days — until the end of August — a move congressional staffers say will give Pinnacle plenty of time to submit the vests needed for testing.
“The Army seems to be accommodating Pinnacle as far as it can,” a top House Armed Services Committee aide told Defense Tech.
The Army declined to comment on the new XSAPI requirement or on upcoming tests until after the service has determined a contract winner.
Pinnacle president Murray Neal faced sharp questions from skeptical Armed Services Committee members during the June 6 hearing, many of whom wondered how earlier Army tests that showed massive failures of Dragon Skin could jibe with the NBC report and Neal’s own contention that the government tests were inaccurate or rigged.
Neal demanded another “independent” test of his armor with outside government observers who could verify the truthfulness of the Army evaluation.
“I would like to recommend that the Army Test Center facility located in Aberdeen, Md., be used. It is independent of all parties [and] is the only [Pentagon] oversight ballistic laboratory capable of doing such testing left in the U.S.,” Neal said in a recent letter sent to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Download Neal’s letter
“My company stands ready to cooperate in any reasonable manner with your staff and designated agents when they begin the process that will result in the requested comprehensive technical assessment.”
The Army acquiesced, writing in a June 22 letter to top Armed Services lawmakers in the House and Senate that both flexible and rigid ESAPI and XSAPI armor would be tested at Aberdeen and would include officials from the Operational Test and Evaluation office of the Pentagon.
In an effort Army officials have said was designed to deflect criticism that armor tests at Aberdeen could be rigged in their favor, the service has conducted most of its ballistic body armor evaluations at H.P. White labs, a civilian-run ballistic test facility in Street, Md.
“All potential body armor suppliers, including Pinnacle Armor, are welcome to compete,” acting Army Secretary Pete Geren wrote lawmakers. “Pinnacle Armor has never submitted a proposal for a U.S. Army body armor solicitation. However, the U.S. Army stands ready to fairly evaluate their product and all products in response to the current solicitation.“
Download Geren’s letters
The House committee aide added that representatives of the Government Accountability Office — the investigative arm of Congress — would also be present at the tests, satisfying lawmakers’ desire for oversight.
The new armor solicitation also makes good on the Army claim that the service is always looking for new ways to protect its troops from enemy threats that continue to grow in sophistication and lethality. In late 2005, Army and Marine officials were shocked to find earlier versions of their rifle-defeating plates penetrated by a type of armor-piercing round previously unseen in Iraq.
Both the Army and Marine Corps moved quickly to strengthen their plates, fielding hundreds of thousands of ESAPIs within months.
The call for XSAPI technology raises the bar on armor protection offered to Army troops by providing a vest that can resist both 7.62mm and 5.56mm rounds with velocities much higher than the ESAPI and bullets with construction that might penetrate current plates, the Army says.
a set of body armour, of any strength, only protects the individual body of the person wearing it.….….but “eyes” protect many more. what is needed is NOT more body armour, it is a thousandfold increase in the capability to detect potential threats, many, at increased distances, beyond or behind cover, through camoflage, at night, in bad weather, etc.
This allows friendly forces to operate WITHOUT ARMOUR!!!.…making them more mobile, more comfortable, more able to address threats.…..
when you can see someone aiming a weapon at you, you no longer have to sit in his sights!
there is absolutely no reason in this age of simple cell phone cameras and UAVs to be allowing anyone, anywhere, the ability to train a weapon on our people without being detected
Pass, on armour altogether.……get more eyes.
Curious philosophy! Billions for targets, but not a penny for bullet-proof plates. This “smells” remarkably like the “virtual fence” along our southern border.
I propose an alternate philosophy. (And yes I am a fan of sci-fi.) The camo armor of the Star Wars Stormtrooper, a fully head to toe system. Then thousands of troops wearing them.
I am in favor of the Army advancing their body armor.
The Air Force can bomb. The Navy can bombard. But it takes a Soldier or Marine to take the ground.
former Sailor; CTR1(SW)
I’d have to agree. The offense/defense armor race is not the best use of resources; law of diminishing returns, until a breakthrough occurs.
What’s next, SAPI plates to defeat 12.7mmAPI?
More eyes are needed, human and/or technological. I’d still like to see 100,000 Predator B’s or giant armed Airships, providing real-time CAS. That is needed to counter the insurgent’s hit and run/hide tactics.
The only thing that is needed right now is Level 4 ballistic helmets.
Well Military I have that technology now and I have the Level IV certifications to prove it. I can mass produce these for you but I want no beaucracy –just help —I am proud of this achievement and love doing it…$$$ is not this issue I make fairly good money as a machinist so call me and let me start the process going and save lives and limbs ;thank you.
Sincerely:Chris Taggart
Director-CombatBodyArmor Co.
On the “get more eyes” front, I gotta tell ya, I don’t know about that. Assuming that omnipotence is feasible doesn’t seem the right way to start the procurement cycle.
Letting Jo Snuffy know that you care about the integrity of his/her body seems to be a pretty good play by comparison, of only for purposes of morale. Seems to be more practical than achieving omnipotence, IMHO.
On soft/flexible armor, the Dragon Skin mini-plates are version 1.0. IMHO, we really need to look at shear thickening fluid applications. DT has posted on them before.
I don’t think first gen STF apps will be better than plates. No way. But there’s a lot of potential there.
If you could produce small ceramic particles or structures like the interlocking concrete modules we build breakwaters out of, then suspend them in a shear thickening fluid or putty, you’d have something that’s flexible to slow stresses (walking, standing, sitting) that would turn into concrete under a compressive stress (bullets, shrap or blast).
Of course, you’d end up looking like you were wearing a catcher’s chest protector, all over, and/or a snowmobile suit. You might end up looking like the Michelin Man. That might not work.
Probably be hot as a bastard, too. ‘Course, that might not be a problem in the winter, in the hills of North Korea, or Afghanistan, or Iran.
Well, shit — maybe we do need more eyes.
I understand the importance of protecting our troops with body armor, but can someone please tell me Why do we buy the cheapest plates we can find? I have served in Iraq and Afghanistan upon getting out of service I started to work for a company called Morgan AM&T whom makes the Sapi plates.
I will tell you this, if I were to go back to combat I would refuse to wear this to save my life after what I have seen!
Why does the government buy from Morgan AM&T? Because they have the cheapest product than any other company that makes the Sapi and including the Side Plates.
How does one explain to a soldier they are wearing something paid by the lowest bidder!
again, take a look at SFTT.org, apparently ARL, in Maryland tested two DS vests about 3 weeks ago. These tests followed FAT protocol for a “high temp” test. The number of shot and placement of the shots for these vests actually exceeded ESAPI specification. It is probably also noteworthy to mention that every single round was defeated, and yes they did use 7.62 x63mm AP2 rounds. The Army is going to have a lot of explaining to do. See the following link for more specifics on this story:
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Unlisted%202007%2edb&command=viewone&id=33
ROFLOL, you make me laugh, with your comment about the army having a lot of explaining to do. ARL shot a couple of vests, big deal, has Dragon Skin been made lighter yet? Didn’t think so, no need to answer that one. Since it is impossible to make Dragon Skin work at the same weight as current armor. Pinnacle expects you to accept the additional weight as being unimportant, but it is the main crux of the argument.
Murray is a master of spin, and has the common idiot following along like the rats of the pied piper. LOL
Beck, please tell us the model of Ferrari you bought last? I guess you don’t deserve the best car out there do you? I guess that budget does come into play, and requirements do also. Let’s see, wife and kids, I guess the eliminates the Corvette, don’t have the money for an Escalade, so I guess we will have to settle for the Ford Explorer. Any clearer to you yet?
Actually Dragon Skin cermaic discs do not interlock at all.
NUKE THEM IF THAT’S THE ONLY WAY OF ENDING THIS CHAOTIC WAR!!!!… Yes we have bean threaten from many country’s that if we send off any nuked a nukeulier war train reaction will start with many countries BUT WE NEED TO END THIS WAR FOR WE DON’T SPEND EVEN MORE MONEY THAT WHAT WE ARE ALREADY SPENDING THEN TOO DETECT A SNIPER WHICH WE PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE KNOW THAT THE “GOVERNMENT” ALREADY HAS A DEVICE SECRETLY HOLDING ON TOO IT THAT THEY HIDE ALL SORTS OF SECRETS FROM all citizens of America If you don’t get it THE GOVERNMENT HAVE THINGS THAT CAN END THIS WAR BUT AFRAID TO USE IT. WE PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ARMOR THAT COVERS OUR BODY WITH METAL. All who served in the military i love you all and i hope you all make it back safley and kick some ass!