Lack of security clearance hinders armor suppliers.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Washington PULSE - Brief article

A full-court press by the Pentagon to accelerate the production of MRAP has raised fundamental questions about the Defense Department's ability to acquire critical hardware on short notice. One major bottleneck in the MRAP program--as well as in other projects that involve sensitive armor technology--has been the scarcity of contractors who have the secret clearances that are required to get access to the technical specs of military armor.

"What I've seen is a problem getting ballistic specs to industry," said Donald Akers, manager of tactical vehicle programs at Whitney Bradley and Brown...