Industry tackling body armor burden with new materials.

• Author: Machi, Vivienne

* Body armor weight has been an issue for soldiers for decades, but as lawmakers and the military push to decrease the load, scientists, academics and the defense industry are developing technologies that create lighter vests, buoyant plates and more comfortable fabrics.

The Army has been working to develop the next-generation "soldier protection system," which would equip troops with lighter body armor, along with upgraded equipment including health sensors and new protective eyewear.

"The most immediate need for body armor right now is weight reduction," said Lt. Col. Kathy Brown, product manager for soldier protective equipment for the Army program executive office soldier. "There is a big emphasis on trying to lighten the soldiers' load, and also to make sure that we have adequate protection and a great fit."

The multimillion-dollar program includes the vital torso protection system (VTPS), which features lighter-weight protective inserts and side ballistic inserts. The VTPS achieves between seven and 14 percent reduced weight, Brown said. The manufacturers include BAE Systems and Ceradyne.

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The torso and extremity protection portion includes a new soft armor modular scalable vest, improved outer tactical vests for both male and female soldiers, a blast pelvic protector and a ballistic combat shirt. Contractors including KDH Defense Systems, Point Blank Enterprises and Revision Military Ltd. are developing those components.

The system also includes a modular, scalable head protection system that is 5 percent lighter than current headgear, and new ballistic protective eyewear that will benefit soldiers in varying light conditions.

An integrated sensor system that would measure heart rate, temperature and hydration levels, has not yet become a program of record and is still in the engineering and development phase, Brown said.

The soldier protection system is expected to provide troops with 10 percent overall weight reduction while maintaining or improving current ballistic capabilities, according to documents.

Lawmakers are pushing for the system to achieve a 20 percent reduction in weight, according to congressional reports.

"A goal of doubling the current SPS [soldier protection system] requirement (a 20 percent reduction in weight while maintaining or improving current ballistic capabilities) would ensure that soldiers have the most advanced hard armor possible to better address emerging and future threats," the...