Interceptor multi-threat body armor system

Last updated
Interceptor multi-threat body armor system
Interceptor body armor.png
The IBA in its various color schemes and camouflage patterns, from left to right, in "M81" U.S. woodland camouflage, coyote tan, desert camouflage, the Universal Camouflage Pattern, and Afghan police grey. These IBA vests are not equipped with the optional deltoid and side panel protectors.
Type Body armor
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2000–2020
Used by United States Navy
U.S. Army Reserve
U.S. Army (historical)
U.S. Marine Corps (historical)
U.S. Air Force (historical)
See Users for other foreign military/law enforcement users
Wars Global War on Terrorism Second Chechen War
Russo-Georgian War
War in Yemen
Production history
DesignerDARPA
DesignedApril 1998
ManufacturerPoint Blank Body Armor (inaugural manufacturer), UNICOR (current manufacturer, since 2008)
ProducedJuly 1998 – April 2020
Specifications
Weight16.4 lb (7.4 kg) (with SAPI plates used; everything in Interceptor) [2]
8.4 lb (3.8 kg) (outer tactical vest) [2]

The Interceptor multi-threat body armor system (IBA) is a bullet-resistant body armor system that was used by the United States Armed Forces during the 2000s, with some limited usage into the mid-2010s. IBA and its design replaced the older standardized fragmentation protective Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) body armor system that was designed in the late 1970s and introduced in the early 1980s.

Contents

The IBA system consists of its core component: the outer tactical vest (OTV), which can optionally be worn with a throat protector, groin protector, and biceps (or deltoid) protector. The latter three auxiliary protectors are removable from the main vest, which can be worn alone.

IBA was designed in the late 1990s as a replacement for the PASGT vest and the essentially-improvised ISAPO supplemental armor plate carrier, a combination widely criticized by US troops for its immense weight. It comes in a variety of color schemes and camouflage patterns depending on who the vest was produced for. It was used by most of the U.S. military's branches during much of the 2000s, and was even seeing limited use as late as 2015 among some National Guard units.

Beginning in 2007 the Improved Outer Tactical Vest began to replace the OTVs in the United States Army's service and since then it has been mostly replaced in its inventory, with the exception of a few OTVs still in service with the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve; however, both the OTV and the newer IOTV are being replaced by the Modular Scalable Vest. [3] The U.S. Marine Corps has replaced the OTV with the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) and Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC), although IBA is still used by the U.S. Navy for sailors aboard its warships as of 2017 and by the U.S. Army Reserve as of 2018. Though IBA has been mostly replaced in U.S. military service, it is still used by the militaries of some other countries that have diplomatic relations with the U.S., such as Ukraine, Iraq, and Moldova. As such, the OTV, which has been in production since the late 1990s, is scheduled to be produced by the U.S. until 2020, for sale to foreign customers.

Overview

Basic system

The IBA system consists of an Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) and two Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) ballistic plates. The OTV features a carrier shell, and three main (flexible) ballistic panel inserts (front left and front right panels, and a rear back panel), [4] which are made with a finely woven Kevlar KM2 fiber. These two parts of the vest are both bullet and heat resistant and offer protection similar to the earlier PASGT flak jacket. The soft ballistic panels are produced in five different sizes (S-XXL), which are installed into their respective pocket on the OTV carrier shell.

The Interceptor armor also has a PALS webbing grid on the front of the vest which accommodate the same type of pockets used in the modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) backpack/carry vest system. This allows a soldier to tailor-fit his MOLLE and body armor system. While not specifically designed for it, the loops can also easily attach all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE)-based equipment, as well as many pieces of civilian-made tactical gear, and also features a large handle on the back just below the collar which can be used to drag a wounded person to safety in an emergency.

Originally the entire IBA system weighed 16.4 pounds (7.4 kg), [5] with the large vest weighing 8.4 pounds (3.8 kg), [6] and two plate inserts weighing 4 pounds (1.8 kg) each. This is much lighter than the previous Ranger Body Armor fielded in Somalia which weighed 25.1 pounds (11.4 kg), as well as the PASGT/ISAPO combination, which weighed even more.

Due to the increased dangers of improvised explosive devices, newer versions of the vital plates and components have been developed. The Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPIs) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBIs) have become available, along with the Deltoid and Axillary Protector System (DAPS). These new systems are becoming the standard for forward deployed troops. The E-SAPI plates offer increased protection from 7.62mm armor-piercing ammunition. The ESBIs is an attachable MOLLE ballistic panel with a pouch for a 8x6 side-SAPI, for protection of the side of the torso/under the arm. DAPS consists of two ambidextrous modular components, the Deltoid (upper arm) Protector and the Axillary (underarm) Protector, and provides additional protection from fragmentary and projectiles to the upper arm and underarm areas. With the OTV, E-SAPI plates (10.9 pounds (4.9 kg)), ESBIs (7.75 pounds (3.52 kg)), DAPS (5.03 pounds (2.28 kg)) and with the neck, throat and groin protectors installed the armor is significantly heavier at 33.1 pounds (15.0 kg).

Additional components

Mannequin of a U.S. Marine wearing a coyote-brown OTV and an additional corporal full protection called "Quadgard IV". This kind of protection was used by turret gunners during the Iraq War, to protect them against small arms fire and fragmentation. USMC Turret Gunner mannequin.JPG
Mannequin of a U.S. Marine wearing a coyote-brown OTV and an additional corporal full protection called "Quadgard IV". This kind of protection was used by turret gunners during the Iraq War, to protect them against small arms fire and fragmentation.

To increase overall protection, separate accessories can be added to the OTV:

The MOLLE II's Fighting Load Carrier component can be donned over an OTV to increase magazine and ease equipment carrying capacity, though it is not part of the IBA system proper. [7]

With the need for additional accessories to protect troops, some were produced for the ground:

Ballistic plates

The Interceptor vest was tested to stop a 9×19mm 124-grain FMJ bullet at 1,400 feet per second (430 m/s) with minimal backface deformation, and it has a V-50 of roughly 1,525 feet per second (465 m/s). This means that the bullet in question must travel faster than 1,525 feet per second (465 m/s) for it to have more than a 50% chance of penetration. (An unlikely prospect, given the muzzle velocity of a typical 9mm handgun or submachine gun). The Interceptor cannot, however, be called a Level III-A vest, since military standards do not require protection against heavy .44 Magnum ammunition. The vest will stop lower velocity fragments and has removable neck, throat, shoulder, extended back and groin protection.

Additionally, two ceramic plates may be added to the front and back of the vest, with each capable of stopping up to three hits from the round marked on the plate. For SAPI, this is a caliber of up to 7.62×51mm M80 FMJ. For ESAPI, this is a caliber of up to 30-06 M2 AP. [11] This performance is only guaranteed when backed by the Interceptor vest, or any other soft armor which meets military requirements for protection. SAPI and ESAPI are the most technically advanced body armor fielded by the U.S. military, and are constructed of boron carbide ceramic with a Spectra shield backing that breaks down projectiles and halts their momentum.

History

USMC Sniper M82.JPEG
A USMC sniper wearing an IBA vest while practicing with an M82A3 anti-materiel rifle at Camp Pendleton, California in April 2001.
Staff Sgt. Brian Raines (left) and Islam Zuzaku, an interpreter, both from B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion patrol the city of Gnjilane, Kosovo on May 27, 2001 010527-A-TH890-003.jpg
U.S. soldier (left) in Kosovo in May 2001 wearing an IBA vest.
Marines from the U.S. 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit marching while wearing IBA and MOLLE components in November 2001, during the War in Afghanistan. U.S. Marines humping in Afghanistan, November 2001.jpg
Marines from the U.S. 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit marching while wearing IBA and MOLLE components in November 2001, during the War in Afghanistan.
Afghan residents and Afghan interpreter in 2002.jpg
A linguistic interpreter in June 2002 wearing DCU-patterned IBA in Afghanistan.
DA-SD-07-16399 - Soldiers from 173rd Airborne Battalion Combat Team, inspect an 81mm mortar.jpg
A U.S. Army mortar crew in 2006 wearing IBA in the DCU camouflage pattern.
U.S. Navy sailors in June 2017 wearing OTVs aboard USS Green Bay in the "M81" woodland pattern. 170624-N-ZL062-008 - PO2 Gage Murphy fires M240B aboard USS Green Bay (LPD-20).jpg
U.S. Navy sailors in June 2017 wearing OTVs aboard USS Green Bay in the "M81" woodland pattern.

Development and production

Materials for the Interceptor vest were developed by DARPA in the 1990s, and a contract for production was awarded to DHB Industries' Point Blank Body Armor, Inc., by the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center. IBA was announced on April 13, 1998, [12] and the contract to manufacture IBA was awarded to an Oakland Park, Florida-based company under a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract in late July 1998, [13] [14] and the body armor went into full production later that year. [15]

In 2007, news reports were being issued on the lack of protection from hard and soft plated body armor from lethal rounds. Due to the coverage of these reports, comparative studies were done on the effectiveness of U.S. Military body armor, included IBA. IBA's performance was deemed inferior compared to other body armor designs and published on the news. The large coverage from this report led to Dean G. Popps, the Acting United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, to direct all first article testing (FAT) of IBA to the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC). The command headquarters are located at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) as a part of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). [16]

The Interceptor body armor components come in a number of variants. Camouflage patterns include:

Solid colors include:

The original Interceptor outer tactical vest (OTV) variant first began to be issued to the U.S. Armed Forces in 2000, though by September 2001 relatively few had actually been fielded. [18] The first OTV carriers were first produced in woodland camouflage pattern (one initial contractor for the early OTVs was Point Blank, Inc). Quickly, a coyote-brown variant was made for the USMC, seeing use during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Marines used OTVs in both woodland and coyote-brown camouflages in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the U.S. Army, the Woodland camouflage pattern was then superseded by the 3-color Desert Combat pattern, followed by the Universal Camouflage Pattern.

Later versions of the OTV made in the mid-to-late 2000s and the 2010s feature more PALS loops on the front and back of the OTV component, hook-and-loop "Velcro" fasteners on the front for nametapes and rank patches, whereas older models from the early 2000s did not. Said later version is commonly referred to as the "second generation" OTV.

As part of U.S. President George W. Bush's $87 billion package for ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, $300 million was earmarked for body armor. A complete Interceptor system costs $1,585. [19] The Interceptor system's component ceramic plates currently cost about $500 each.

OTVs are still being made today, primarily for the U.S. Army, which then in turn sells them to foreign countries and international customers under the "Foreign Military Sales" (FMS) program. They have been made by convict labor provided the UNICOR company since 2008 and are scheduled to be made until at least April 2020. [20] [21] OTVs in the woodland and desert camouflage patterns along with coyote brown color scheme were being made as late as early 2014. [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Replacement

U.S. Army

On May 10, 2006, the U.S. Army announced it was holding an open competition for companies to design an entirely new generation of body armor "to improve on and replace" the Interceptor Body Armor's vest component. The Army said it wanted ideas from companies by May 31. Congressional investigators reportedly reviewed the Pentagon's entire body armor program, including the OTV. Investigators expressed concern that the vests might not be adequate to protect troops. [27]

Aside from replacing the SAPI vital plates with the improved E-SAPI plates, the body armor vests have also been redesigned, improved and enhanced with the introduction of the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, or "IOTV" (which began to be issued to ground combat units from mid-to-late 2007), in the U.S. Army.

The OTV along with IOTV and SPCS will eventually be replaced by the Modular Scalable Vest.

U.S. Marine Corps

After initially using IBA as their main body armor system, the U.S. Marine Corps developed a completely new armor system, the Modular Tactical Vest, which was their primary body armor system in Iraq. On September 25, 2006, the Marine Corps announced that Protective Products International won a contract for 60,000 new Modular Tactical Vests (MTV) to replace the Interceptor OTV vests. [28] The MTV provides greater coverage, superior weight distribution, and additional features including as a quick-release system. Some U.S. Navy ground force personnel (such as seabees and hospital corpsmen) use the Modular Tactical Vest. Other Navy personnel on Individual Augmentee assignments use the Army's body armor systems.

Not adapted for the mountainous environment of Afghanistan, the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) was replaced by the Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC), a lighter alternative, which is their primary body armor system for Afghanistan.

Since January 2009, the U.S. Marine Corps is seeking for replacements for both MTV and SPC that are commonly issued. The MTV has received top ratings by many U.S. Marines; although a few Marines have complained about minor elements of it and an updated version will soon be released which deals with these elements. [29] The Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) and Improved Scalable Plate Carrier (ISPC) are the new models. "The IMTV will be the main body armor system for Marines, the Corps plans to order about 70,000 of the improved plate carriers, far more than the estimated 10,000 to 14,000 plate carriers in use today". [30]

Effectiveness

An Interceptor vest with additional side SAPI plates and neck protector in 2005, with a set of full-body armor in the background. USMC-01024.jpg
An Interceptor vest with additional side SAPI plates and neck protector in 2005, with a set of full-body armor in the background.

Discussion

Body armor is always a compromise: mobility and comfort (and with it speed and stamina) are inevitably sacrificed to some degree when greater protection is achieved. This is a point of contention in the U.S. armed forces, with some favoring less armor in order to maintain mobility and others wanting as much protection as is practical. Troops who primarily ride in vehicles generally want the highest practical level of protection from IEDs and ambushes, while dismounted infantry often make the case that impaired mobility can prove just as fatal as inadequate armor.

Controversies

U.S. soldiers in 2003 wearing woodland-patterned IBA vests atop DCUs. Prior to the introduction of the Army Combat Uniform in mid-to-late 2005 most U.S. soldiers wore the woodland-patterned IBA; although DCU-patterned vests existed they were relatively rare. Airborne and Special Forces Uday-Qusay raid, 2003.jpg
U.S. soldiers in 2003 wearing woodland-patterned IBA vests atop DCUs. Prior to the introduction of the Army Combat Uniform in mid-to-late 2005 most U.S. soldiers wore the woodland-patterned IBA; although DCU-patterned vests existed they were relatively rare.

Most OTVs were made in the "M81" U.S. woodland camouflage pattern initially. [17] As a result, during the Iraq War prior to the adoption of the Army Combat Uniform, most U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq were wearing woodland-patterned OTVs atop Desert Camouflage Uniforms, [17] resulting in them being easier to spot from a distance in a desert environment like Iraq. [17]

On 4 May 2005 the U.S. Marine Corps recalled 5,277 Interceptor OTVs made by DHB's Point Blank unit after news reports about the vests' inability to stop 9 mm bullets. In November 2005, the Marine Corps ordered 10,342 Interceptor outer tactical vests pulled from the operating forces after media reports indicated some samples tested by the manufacturer and by the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland failed to fully comply with ballistics standards.

A U.S. Marine Corps forensic study obtained by DefenseWatch criticizes the Interceptor OTV body armor system. The report says: "As many as 42% of the Marine casualties who died from isolated torso injuries could have been prevented with improved protection in the areas surrounding the plated areas of the vest. Nearly 23% might have benefited from protection along the mid-axillary line of the lateral chest. Another 15% died from impacts through the unprotected shoulder and upper arm." [31]

Alternatives

Private purchase of commercial body armor for combat use by soldiers is not authorized by the U.S. Army. A spokesman voiced concerns in 2004 about armor that had not been "tested, certified or approved" by the Army. [19] In 2005, the DoD, under severe pressure from Congress after the recalls, authorized a one-time $1,000 reimbursement to soldiers who had purchased civilian body armor and other gear. [32] In 2006 they gave orders not to wear anything but military issued body armor because of fears that inadequate armor could be purchased, mainly body armor that had inadequate blunt force trauma protection. [33]

Users

Inherent Resolve 150310-F-GO452-097.jpg
Iraqi soldiers in 2015 wearing woodland-patterned IBAs.
Sky Soldiers welcome US chief of staff of the Army to Fearless Guardian 151029-A-BR501-201.jpg
Ukrainian soldiers (right) wearing the IBA in October 2015
Afghan police grey OTV, front view.JPG
Afghan police grey OTV, front view
Afghan police grey OTV, rear view.JPG
Afghan police grey OTV, rear view
Afghan police grey OTV, label.JPG
Afghan police grey OTV, detail of the label

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The U.S. Marine Corps adopted a similar system called Armor Protection Enhancement System (APES) around 2004 and 2005. This one was considered to be uncomfortable by its wearers and did not offer sufficient protection. The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Design, Housing and Merchandizing Department led by D.H. Branson developed a full protection system that covers both arms and legs called Quadgard that quickly replaced the APES made by Point Blank Body Armor. Around 4800 sets of the Quadgard IV were sent in Iraq to be used (mainly) by turret gunners inside humvees during convoy patrols.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOLLE</span> Load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces

Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment, or MOLLE (pronounced MOL-lee,, is the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops</span> Military equipment

Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops is a combat helmet and ballistic vest that was used by the United States military from the early 1980s until the early or mid-2000s, when the helmet and vest were succeeded by the Lightweight Helmet (LWH), Modular Integrated Communications Helmet (MICH), and Interceptor body armor (IBA) respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Combat Uniform</span> Combat utility uniform of the United States Army, Air Force, and Space Force

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and some elements of the U.S. Coast Guard. Within the Air Force and Space Force, it is referred to as the OCP Uniform, rather than the Army Combat Uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small Arms Protective Insert</span> American military ballistic protection system

The Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) is a ceramic ballistic plate used by the United States Armed Forces. It was first used in the Ranger Body Armor and Interceptor Body Armor, both are ballistic vests. It is now also used in the Improved Outer Tactical Vest as well as the Modular Tactical Vest, in addition to commercially available "plate carriers". The Kevlar Interceptor vest itself is designed to stop projectiles up to and including 9×19mm Parabellum submachine gun rounds, in addition to fragmentation. To protect against higher-velocity rifle rounds, SAPI plates are needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceradyne</span> Manufacturer of advanced ceramic systems

Ceradyne, Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British company, Avon Rubber. Ceradyne, Inc. is a manufacturer of advanced ceramic systems and components and involved in many technical industries including nuclear power, oil and gas, solar energy, automotive, and defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Prison Industries</span> United States government corporation

Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI), doing business as UNICOR since 1977, is a corporation wholly owned by the United States government. It was created in 1934 as a prison labor program within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Improved load-bearing equipment</span> United States Marine Corps program

The improved load-bearing equipment (ILBE) is a United States Marine Corps program that had included individual load carriage equipment, individual hydration systems and individual water purification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular Tactical Vest</span> Body armor developed by the United States Marine Corps

The Modular Tactical Vest is a ballistic vest originally adopted by the United States Marine Corps in 2006. The MTV was designed as a solution to shortcomings in the Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) and was selected after a rigorous proposal and examination process by the Marine Corps. The MTV provides better protection levels than the IBA, although it uses the same Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates. The MTV weighs 30 pounds (14 kg), three pounds more than the IBA, but is designed to more effectively distribute its weight throughout the wearer's torso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System</span>

CIRAS is a modular protective vest designed for US Special Operations Forces by Eagle Industries. The vest is currently the new FSBE II system and has replaced the FSBE AAVs. It features PALS webbing, making it MOLLE-compatible and allowing the attachment of various pouches or accessories. Two versions of the vest are available, known as the "land" and "maritime" versions. The vest consists of front and rear panels with pockets for BALCS or SPEAR-cut soft armor panels and standard-issue SAPI plates. This gives the wearer up to NIJ Level IV protection on the front and back and Level IIIA protection on the sides. On the lower rear side of the front of the vest, there are two quick-releasable buckles for attaching groin protection. The wearer's sides are covered by an external cummerbund, which is also covered with PALS webbing. The vest body is constructed of 1000-denier Cordura Nylon, and the interior is lined with heavy-duty mesh to aid in cooling the wearer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Combat Shirt</span> United States tactical gear

The Army Combat Shirt (ACS) is a flame-resistant shirt developed and used by the United States Army as a supplementary addition to the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). The ACS is a stand-alone shirt designed specifically for use with Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) in warm and hot weather instead of the blouse, and was introduced in 2007. It is intended to greatly increase user comfort through the use of lightweight, moisture-wicking, and breathable fabrics. The ACS was created in conjunction with the USMC's Flame Resistant Organizational Gear (FROG). The ACS, in conjunction with the Fire Resistant ACU (FRACU) trousers, provides head-to-toe protection against burns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Improved Outer Tactical Vest</span> US Army body armor

The Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) is an enhanced version of, and a replacement for, the older Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) component of the Interceptor multi-threat body armor system, as fielded by the United States Army beginning in the mid-2000s. The IOTV is compatible with the Deltoid and Axillary Protector System (DAPS) components, ESAPI, Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI), as well as the OTV's groin protector. A flame-resistant standalone shirt, the Army Combat Shirt (ACS), was designed in the late 2000s specifically for use with the IOTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pouch Attachment Ladder System</span> Grid of webbing used to attach smaller equipment onto load-bearing platforms

The Pouch Attachment Ladder System or PALS is a grid of webbing invented and patented by United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center used to attach smaller equipment onto load-bearing platforms, such as vests and backpacks. It was first used on MOLLE rucksacks, but is now found on a variety of tactical equipment, such as the U.S. Improved Outer Tactical Vest, Interceptor body armor, USMC improved load-bearing equipment backpack and Modular Tactical Vest. It is used to attach items such as holsters, magazine pouches, radio pouches, knife sheathes, and other gear. A wide variety of pouches are commercially available, allowing soldiers to customize their kit. There is also a variety of attachment methods including the Alice Clip, the Natick snap, and soft, interwoven straps. The PALS system has begun to be adopted by other forces, such as the British Army, who use it on their Osprey body armor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tactical Vest Antenna System</span> Wearable radio antenna

Tactical Vest Antenna System (TVAS) is a type of wearable antenna designed for use by the United States Armed Forces. It is claimed that troops equipped with the TVAS are more effective than those equipped with conventional whip antennas due to better concealment of the equipment and improved mobility of the operator. TVAS was developed by Wearable Antenna Technologies Inc. in early 2008.

The PRU-70/P22P-18 (V) is an Armored Survival Vest (ASV) that is intended for aircrews. It was designed by Naval Air Systems Command Human Systems Division. The vests are manufactured by Peckham Vocational Industries in Michigan and are used by Navy and Marine aircrew in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Amphibious Assault Vest, Quick-Release, or FSBE AAV QR, is a light-weight assault vest system that incorporates both protection and cargo retention. Protection includes soft armor coupled with hard ballistic inserts. Cargo retention capabilities include various pouches and pockets attached via standard PALS webbing. The entire FSBE kit includes the vest body, a throat protector, a groin protector and an assortment of load bearing pouches. A fully loaded vest with armor plates can prove quite heavy, and is typically used only in high-risk direct action (DA) missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soldier Plate Carrier System</span> US Army SPCS or KDH Magnum TAC-1

The Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS), known commercially as the KDH Magnum TAC-1, is a plate carrier developed for the U.S. Army which provides protection in accordance with if not greater than, the Improved Outer Tactical Vest. The SPCS is a lighter alternative to the IOTV, with increased mobility and comfort. The MSV, part of the US Army's SPS, is intended to replace all currently fielded body armor systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scalable Plate Carrier</span> Plate carrier developed and used by the United States Marine Corps

The Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC) is a plate carrier used by the United States Marine Corps as an alternative to the heavier Modular Tactical Vest (MTV).

The Modular Body Armor Vest (MBAV) is a bullet-proof vest made by Eagle Industries and used by the United States military. The vest is standard issue for many members of the United States special operations forces including the 75th Ranger Regiment. 10,000 vests were deployed on an interim basis with the U.S. Marine Corps while it developed the Scalable Plate Carrier. The vest was also evaluated by the U.S. Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular Scalable Vest</span> US Armed Forces MSV

The Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) is a bullet-resistant vest that has been introduced by the United States Armed Forces in 2018.

References

  1. ↑ "US Sending Body Armor to Ukraine". Jun 26, 2014. Retrieved Oct 3, 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "Interceptor Body Armor". Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  3. ↑ Vasquez, Daniel (11 April 2020). "The Missing Aspect of Soldier Lethality: Improved Armor Carriers in a Constrained Fiscal Environment by CPT Daniel Vazquez". Soldier Systems Daily. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  4. ↑ https://www.2idas.com/!OLD/!data/files/Manualy/IBA_manual.pdf
  5. ↑ "Biting the Bullet". Archived from the original on 2017-08-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ "Giant OTV/IOTV Weight Chart". 21 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "MOLLE system" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2009-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ Lamothe, Dan (11 April 2012). "Journalist wear-tests "combat diaper" with Marines". Military Times. Gannett. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Sanborn, James K. (18 July 2011). "New this summer: groin armor". Marine Corps Times. Gannett. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Pelvic Protection Systems (PPS)" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2012-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ↑ "Interceptor Body Armor". GlobalSecurity. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ↑ "Interceptor Body Armor - CIE Hub". CIE Hub. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  13. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army DAAN0298D5006 To Point Blank Body Armor Inc. $173.5m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  14. ↑ "Researchers Work to Lighten the Soldier's Load: Advanced Technology Application and Design". Archived from the original on 2017-08-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ "Interceptor Body Armor". Global Security. July 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2013. The INTERCEPTOR System went into production in 1998 under a five-year contract awarded by US Army Natick Soldier Center contracting. On 27 July 1998 Point Blank Body Armor Inc.*, Oakland Park, Fla., was awarded on July 23, 1998, $5,573,715, as part of an $82,265,250 firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for 10,475 U.S. Marine Corps Tactical Body Armor (INTERCEPTOR) Outer Tactical Vests (OTV). Work will be performed in Oakland Park, Fla., and is expected to be completed by July 6, 1999. Of the total contract funds, $5,573,715 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was an announcement on the World Wide Web on April 13, 1998, and six bids were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command, Natick, Mass. (DAAN02-98-D-5006).
  16. ↑ Peel, Kevin (September 2015). "Dragon skin - how it changed body armor testing in the United States Army". Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive DSpace Repository. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Hamilton, Jesse (2004). "LATEST BODY ARMOR'S ONLY PROBLEM: COLOR". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Interim Small Arms Protective Overvest".
  19. 1 2 Burgess, Lisa (13 January 2004). "Shipment of body armor vests on its way to Kuwait, Iraq-bound troops". Stars & Stripes. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  20. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0015 To Unicor $42.5k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  21. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045 To Unicor $265.8m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  22. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0082 To Unicor $92.6k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  23. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0078 To Unicor $29.4k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  24. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0075 To Unicor $34m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  25. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0081 To Unicor $98.3k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  26. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0084 To Unicor $9.8k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  27. ↑ Bernstein, James (13 May 2006). "Army deals blow to body armor maker DHB Industries". Newsday.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved 2006-05-15. Alt URL Archived 2014-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ "I Want My MTV - Marines Getting New Body Armor". Defense Industry Daily. 3 November 2006. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007.
  29. ↑ Oliver, Wesley (3 January 2009). "Marines Improving Vests After Complaints: Troops complained 30 lbs. vest too heavy, restrictive". Newser. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  30. ↑ Lamothe, Dan (19 January 2009). "Corps to field two new body armor vests". Marine Corps Times. Gannett. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  31. ↑ "Interceptor OTV Body Armor Cost Lives, An Internal USMC Reports Shows". DefenseWatch. Soldiers for the Truth. 11 January 2006. Archived from the original on 13 February 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-15.
  32. ↑ Helms, Nathaniel R. (2006-01-14). "Army Orders Soldiers to Shed Dragon Skin or Lose SGLI Death Benefits". Soldiers for the Truth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  33. ↑ "Army bans use of privately bought armor". USA Today. Associated Press. 2006-03-30. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  34. ↑ "Afghan Army Growing, but Additional Trainers Needed; Long-term Costs Not Determined" (PDF). Report to Congressional Addressees. United States Government Accountability Office. January 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  35. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0002 To Unicor $27.9m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  36. ↑ @NATO (28 November 2020). "Retweet to join us in celebrating our..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ↑ "Ushtria Shqiptare".
  38. ↑ "Arnavutluk'tan Afganistan'a 66 asker gönderildi". Haber Lütfen (in Turkish). Retrieved 6 August 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  39. ↑ "Hawaii Marines serve with Azerbaijani in Haditha". Dvids.
  40. ↑ "Photos - Bangladesh Military Photos". A Military Photos & Video Website. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  41. ↑ "#osbih 🇧🇦 #mobih🇧🇦 #afbih🇧🇦 #bosniaandherzegovina🇧🇦 #nato Instagram Photo by MO i OS Bosne i Hercegovine - @mo_i_os_bih on Instagram - Uploaded on Tuesday 9th of October 2018 04:00:45 PM". inst4gram.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  42. ↑ Tecnodefesa. "Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais tem novo comandante - Tecnodefesa". Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  43. ↑ "Military Power Review - Brazilian Marines Corps - Photo gallery (english version)". www.militarypower.com.br. Archived from the original on 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  44. ↑ "Somalia: Al-Shabaab retakes key town from African Union troops". 31 October 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  45. ↑ "Republic of Georgia Introduces Body Armor Manufacturing Capability - The Firearm Blog". 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  46. ↑ "Inherent Resolve".
  47. ↑ "Iraqi army brigade equipment fielding, Operation Inherent Resolve". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  48. ↑ Corvine, Torfaen (2010-10-05), Airborne Soldier AKS-74 Kazakhstan September 2003 , retrieved 2021-08-31
  49. 1 2 3 GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0006 To Unicor $902.3k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  50. ↑ 7thArmyTrainingCommand (13 November 2014). "Moldovan special forces at Combined Resolve III". Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2017– via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ↑ "(image of men in combat dress)". pbs.twimg.com/media.
  52. ↑ "File:Namibian Navy Members.jpg - Wikipedia". May 10, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-10. Retrieved Aug 1, 2020.
  53. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0003 To Unicor $11.2m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  54. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0001 To Unicor $1.2m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  55. ↑ "Sky Soldiers welcome US chief of staff of the Army to Fearless Guardian". Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  56. ↑ Поставлені в Україну зі США бронежилети “INTERCEPTOR” під час випробувань з оцінки балістичної стійкості показали відмінну протикульову стійкість при обстрілі з 7,62 мм автомату АКМ та 9 мм пістолету ПМ Archived 2014-07-26 at the Wayback Machine / Ukrainian MoD official website
  57. ↑ Stern, Seth (2 April 2003). "Body armor could be a technological hero of war in Iraq". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  58. ↑ "Defense.gov News Article: Army, Marines Rushing Body Armor to Troops in Combat Zones". Archived from the original on 2015-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  59. ↑ "USACAPOC (A) Soldiers become more capable, combat-ready and lethal Image 1 of 4". 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018.
  60. ↑ "USACAPOC (A) Soldiers become more capable, combat-ready and lethal Image 2 of 4". 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018.
  61. ↑ "Guard members in 23 states, D.C. called up in response to civil unrest". National Guard. Retrieved Aug 1, 2020.
  62. ↑ "USS Green Bay defense exercise". Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  63. ↑ GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0010 To Unicor $281k". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2017-09-22.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.