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72-472: 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,

144-487: A de facto standard for modular tactical gear, replacing the all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE) system used in the earliest modular vest systems, which is still in use with many police forces. Even before the introduction of MOLLE, a light system of load-carrying equipment had been developed. Known as the Individual Integrated Fighting System (IIFS) and also LBV-88, it

216-427: A Medium OTV vest, while providing more coverage. However, a fully equipped IOTV, complete with all its components (soft armor panel inserts, four ballistic plate inserts (front and back plates and two side plates), collar, and groin protectors) still weighs 30 pounds (14 kg), with a Large IOTV weighing about 35 pounds (16 kg). The functionality of the enhanced side ballistic inserts, which provide coverage under

288-440: A SAPI plate weighs 1.82 kg (4.0 lb) while an E-SAPI plate weighs 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), over a 35 percent increase in weight. In regards to cost, E-SAPI plates cost 50 percent more, coming in at approximately $ 600 per plate. SAPI plates were largely phased out in favor of E-SAPI plates beginning in 2005. XSAPI (X Threat Small Arms Protective Insert) plates are ceramic ballistic plates that have begun replacement of

360-493: A V-50 of roughly 1,525 ft/s (465 m/s). This means that the bullet has to be traveling faster than 1,525 ft/s (465 m/s) for it to have more than a 50% chance of breaking through the soft armor panel. These specifications are similar to the NIJ standard level III-A certification, however, military standards do not require their vests to be NIJ certified as this is primarily a law enforcement standard. The modular design of

432-473: A casualty, which was one concern that was not addressed with the old Interceptor armor. It also features a grid of Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing on the front, back, and sides for the attachment of modular pouches and accessories such as neck and throat protection, groin protection, or deltoid protection. Equipment attachment rings for the Tactical Assault Panel (TAP), which has replaced

504-476: 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

576-608: A contract for 60,000 new Modular Tactical Vests (MTV) to replace the Interceptor OTV vests. 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

648-452: A lighter feel because it does not rest on the female soldier's shoulders like the male vest. The first female soldier vests were given to soldiers deploying for Afghanistan in September 2012. Nearly all modern military body armor is designed to prevent penetration from bullets to vital areas of the body, in addition to protection against knives and fragmentation from explosives. Typically this

720-415: A mesh inner cover that is designed to improve airflow inside of the armor. There is also a back pad in the lower back area of the vest, which is designed to defeat fragmentation impacts to the lower back/kidney areas. However, the back pad does not provide significant ballistic protection. The vest can withstand a direct impact from a 7.62 millimeter (both NATO and ex-Soviet types) on the front or rear if using

792-529: A part of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). 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. The first OTV carriers were first produced in woodland camouflage pattern (one initial contractor for

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864-563: 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 , resulting in them being easier to spot from a distance in a desert environment like Iraq. 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

936-415: 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

1008-473: Is accomplished through both highly durable woven synthetic fibers such as Kevlar or Dyneema , and either metal or ceramic ballistic plates. The IOTV is the standard issue torso protection component to the United States Army. The IOTV is designed to take the weight of the vest off the shoulders and move it to the lower torso, and made to permit maximum freedom of movement. The vest is also equipped with

1080-643: 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

1152-521: 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 Small Arms Protective Insert), Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI), as well as

1224-665: 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. 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. 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. Improved Outer Tactical Vest The Improved Outer Tactical Vest ( IOTV )

1296-470: Is often considered "MOLLE-compatible" or is called a "MOLLE" system. Increasingly, non-military manufacturers are incorporating PALS onto outdoor equipment. There are three general modes of attachment in the MOLLE arena; the "Natick Snap", which uses a polyethylene reinforced webbing strap with the 'pushthedot' snap fastener for security; the polymer "Malice" clip, developed by Tactical Tailor as an alternative to

1368-502: Is set to replace the IOTV as the standard protective vest issued to US soldiers. MOLLE Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment , or MOLLE (pronounced / ˈ m ɒ l . l iː / MOL -lee ), is the current generation of load-bearing equipment used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army since the late 1990s. MOLLE uses

1440-417: 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

1512-569: The M16 rifle . Though the IIFS did not live up to its expected purpose, it did lay the groundwork for future equipment. MOLLE was developed at Natick labs in the mid-1990s following the IIFS's introduction. Army leadership believed that the PALS system now presented an opportunity to completely change the way equipment was made. It was conceived as a lighter and more durable system for carrying equipment, and would lighten

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1584-497: The Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing equipment – rows of heavy-duty nylon stitched onto the gear – to attach equipment. This method has found use on civilian gear, and as a result, the term MOLLE is used outside the military for PALS-type webbing. The system's modularity results from the PALS allowing for the attachment of various compatible pouches and accessories. This method of attachment has become

1656-502: The ESAPI. They are mostly issued to personnel in higher threat environments like Iraq or Afghanistan. The plates are tan colored and the first batch was shipped in the second quarter of 2009, Ceradyne receiving a $ 77 million contract for delivery. Its threat level is presumably against the M993 7.62 NATO penetrator , as denoted by the back's marking. In the text "7.62mm AP/WC Protection" displayed on

1728-500: The IOTV, and were thus more suitable for patrol in Afghanistan . The Army plans to introduce the torso and extremity protection (TEP) system beginning in 2018, which includes a modular scalable vest, ballistic combat shirt, blast pelvic protection system, and battle belt to reduce overall weight from 26 to 21 lb (11.8 to 9.5 kg) while maintaining coverage by reducing excess bulk. The Modular Scalable Vest , first issued in 2018,

1800-537: 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." Private purchase of commercial body armor for combat use by soldiers

1872-600: The Natick Snap concept, which interweaves like the Natick Snap but terminates in a semi-permanent closure that requires a screwdriver or other flat-tipped object to disengage; and a variety of attachments that fall into the "Weave & Tuck" category, in which the end of an interwoven strap is tucked into an item's backing after attachment to a vest or pack (Paraclete's SofStrap and Spec Ops Brand's hybrid attachment). The PALS grid consists of horizontal rows of 25 mm (1 in) webbing , spaced 25 mm apart, and attached to

1944-505: 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

2016-650: 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. The OTV design was considered insufficient and lacking in certain areas, which led to the IOTV's development and fielding beginning in 2007. The IOTV is currently produced by Point Blank Body Armor, BAE Systems , KDH Defense Systems, Protective Products Enterprises, UNICOR and Creative Apparel Associates. The IOTV first saw action in combat with U.S. Army ground combat units in from mid-2007 onward and currently remains

2088-667: 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 . The U.S. Marine Corps has replaced the OTV with the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) and Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC), although IBA

2160-542: The Pentagon 's entire body armor program, including the OTV. Investigators expressed concern that the vests might not be adequate to protect troops. 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

2232-666: The Spectra backing either stops the bullet, or, if the bullet was powerful enough, allows the bullet to pass through into the IOTV itself, and likely the wearer. Even in the event of the E-SAPI plate failing to prevent penetration, the velocity and energy of the penetrating round is often reduced to the point where the resulting wound is non lethal. E-SAPI plates are manufactured by Armorworks Enterprises, Ceradyne, Simula, and BAE Systems. Durability standards are high for E-SAPI plates, with Army requirements on environmental condition testing involving

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2304-465: The U.S. Army. The OTV along with IOTV and SPCS will eventually be replaced by the Modular Scalable Vest . 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

2376-454: 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. Most OTVs were made in the "M81" U.S. woodland camouflage pattern initially. As

2448-464: The U.S. military, and are constructed of boron carbide ceramic with a Spectra shield backing that breaks down projectiles and halts their momentum . 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, and

2520-467: The U.S. until 2020, for sale to foreign customers. 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), 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

2592-406: The arms and down the sides of the torso, is built into the IOTV. The IOTV provides the ability to don the vest in two ways. The first is to simply place the vest over the head and pull down, and the second is to remove fasteners on the wearer's left shoulder, sliding into the vest to the right. To complete the procedure for both methods the wearer then lifts up the front panel of the vest and fastens

2664-611: The back of the plate, "WC" is the chemical formula for tungsten carbide , the penetrator material of the M993 projectile. The Improved Outer Tactical Vest as a whole is an improvement over previous US body armor systems, with the fragmentation vest from the Vietnam War being limited to fragmentation protection, the PASGT vest being limited to pistol rounds, and the previous Outer Tactical Vest being unable to stop armor piercing rounds. In response to

2736-433: 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, and the body armor went into full production later that year. 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

2808-406: 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

2880-570: 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

2952-633: 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

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3024-545: The entire IBA system weighed 16.4 pounds (7.4 kg), with the large vest weighing 8.4 pounds (3.8 kg), 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

3096-417: The feedback of soldiers on the effectiveness of the armor system, the Army has continually upgraded the IOTV with new features, with Generation III involving a more intuitive quick release system. Rather than producing entirely new IOTV armor sets, body armor conversion kits have been delivered at a lower cost in order to bring older Generation armor sets up to newer standards. One criticism carried over from

3168-408: The field (since mitigated), that the zippers have a tendency to burst when stuffed full and that the pack's straps lack sufficient length to be used with bulky body armor. The first generation of this system used a ball and socket joint between the frame and rucksack belt (which in itself formed the waistbelt of the MOLLE vest). This method led to numerous lower back injuries due to the ball (mounted on

3240-506: The frame) missing the socket on the waistbelt and hurting the user's body. Subsequent redesign of the SDS MOLLE led to the deletion of this feature and the vest (FLC) and ruck/frame became separate non-integral items. The term MOLLE is technically only used to describe the specific system manufactured by Specialty Defense Systems, but is also casually used interchangeably to describe generically all load bearing systems and subsystems that utilize

3312-456: The ground: 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

3384-526: The military made public testing that showed widespread failures in the testing of the Dragon Skin armor. Ultimately, Dragon Skin never saw widespread adoption, and many of the perceived shortfalls of the Outer Tactical Vest such as standard of protection or modularity were addressed in the new Improved Outer Tactical Vest and E-SAPI plates. A size Medium IOTV weighs 3.6 pounds (1.6 kg), less than

3456-681: 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. The Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) and Improved Scalable Plate Carrier (ISPC) are

3528-414: 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

3600-568: The neck, throat and groin protectors installed the armor is significantly heavier at 33.1 pounds (15.0 kg). 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. With the need for additional accessories to protect troops, some were produced for

3672-467: 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". 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

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3744-536: The old Vietnam-era M1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment (MLCE) was adopted for use in the system. Designated the Combat Patrol Pack, it was actually used as a three-day pack for training purposes. The IIFS was meant to be a replacement for the ALICE system in infantry units, though it was intended for ALICE to be used in most others. Attached to the vest were four ammunition pockets for holding 30-round magazines for

3816-527: The older SAPI plates (NIJ standard III). Use of the new E-SAPI plates increase protection to armor-piercing versions of the aforementioned rounds in addition to . 30-06 Springfield M2 armor-piercing rounds (NIJ standard IV). The IOTV provides, without the ballistic ceramic plates inserted, protection from small caliber rounds (i.e. 9mm ) and fragmentation. The soft kevlar panels have been tested to stop 9 mm 124 grain full metal jacket bullets at 1,400 ft/s (426 m/s) with minimal deformation and has

3888-586: The older Fighting Load Carrier vest (FLC), have been in all IOTV models since the Gen II, which was introduced in the early 2010s. In response to the large numbers of female soldiers in the army, a female-specific version of the IOTV (F-IOTV) was developed. Previously, standard tactical vests were issued to women in combat. Army soldiers found that women's movement was restricted, in ways such as bending over, getting in and out of tight spaces, or positioning their rifles against their shoulders. The long armor plates inside

3960-523: The older OTV to the newer IOTV is what is regarded as the excessive weight of the armor, especially by dismounted infantrymen who regard the armor almost as a liability. In response to this, the U.S. Army is looking into supplementing the heavy IOTV with the newer Modular Body Armor Vest (MBAV) and Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) already in service in Ranger and Airborne units. The MBAV and SPCS do provide less soft body armor coverage, but are lighter than

4032-415: The plate is a layer of Spectra, a woven polymer material with extremely high tensile strength meant to stop any projectile that manages to pass through the ceramic strikeface. When a bullet strikes the E-SAPI plate, the kinetic energy is dispersed throughout the ceramic layer, and the majority of military rounds in common use are stopped or broken up. If the bullet continues through the boron carbide layer,

4104-471: The plates being kept 6 hours at both a high temperature and a low temperature in addition to being dropped twice among a variety of other requirements. USSOCOM requirements are even more stringent, involving 24 hours at high and low temperatures. While E-SAPI plates do hold significant defensive advantages over the preceding SAPI plates, the increased protection comes at the cost of increased weight and significantly increased cost. Comparing medium-sized plates,

4176-444: The protection against projectiles when carried in an Improved Outer Tactical Vest, and are also used as part of many other body armors such as the Modular Tactical Vest . E-SAPI plates are designed to cover the vital front and back torso areas of the torso, while E-SBI plates are designed to protect the sides of the torso. The plate component itself is made of boron carbide, a widely used and extremely hard boron-carbon ceramic. Backing

4248-489: The soldier's load. The MOLLE system was introduced in 1997, but did not see widespread issue until after the September 11 attacks in 2001, and was used by U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq . Early criticisms of the MOLLE system emerged, particularly from the Army. Many of these criticisms have centered on the sustainment-load pack and frame, due to the external plastic frame being too fragile and subject to breaking in

4320-536: The standard body armor type used by regular U.S. Army ground combat units overseas, although the new Modular Scalable Vest is set to replace it in the coming years. While the Interceptor Body Armor and the Outer Tactical Vest were considered fairly effective, questions were raised over whether or not they were the best possible armor solution for soldiers of the United States Military. This debate

4392-415: The vest allows greater tactical flexibility in regards to different situations faced by ground troops. A US Army medical research report concluded that greater modular design leads to the ability to find a more effective balance between projectile protection and the physical endurance of the soldier, preventing losses in agility and mobility, and therefore reducing potential injuries or casualties. Initially,

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4464-592: The vest came in the Universal Camouflauge Pattern (UCP), and IOTVs with it were standard issue until the UCP pattern began to be replaced beginning in 2016, with the Operational Camouflauge Pattern (OCP). E-SAPI (Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert) plates and their smaller counterparts E-SBI (Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts) plates, are ceramic ballistic plates that provide the bulk of

4536-417: 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. 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

4608-456: The vests would also rub against their hips and cut into their thighs when they sat down. Development of a model for women began in 2009. After much testing and measurements, the Army came up with a vest that is shorter to accommodate smaller torsos and has tailoring to fit closer to women's chests. The new vest eliminates gaps between the material and the body and can be fitted with smaller side ballistic inserts for small waist sizes. The vest has

4680-468: 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

4752-401: 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

4824-491: The waistband, which takes the weight of the vest off the shoulders somewhat, and then fastens the side protection modules. A key design feature for the IOTV is that the entire armor system is able to be released with the pull of a hidden lanyard. The armor then falls apart into its component pieces, providing a means for escape in case the wearer falls into water or becomes trapped in a hazardous environment. The hidden release lanyard also allows medical personnel easier access to

4896-439: The woodland and desert camouflage patterns along with coyote brown color scheme were being made as late as early 2014. 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

4968-470: The woven PALS ( Pouch Attachment Ladder System ) webbing for modular pouch attachment (though PALS is proprietary to Natick Labs , most use MOLLE and PALS interchangeably). Derivatives based on the MOLLE attachment method (such as the Tactical Tailor MALICE clip system) have also been developed. Any system that utilizes modular attachment methods and is usable with U.S. general issue MOLLE components

5040-540: Was earmarked for body armor. A complete Interceptor system costs $ 1,585. 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. OTVs in

5112-403: Was heightened by controversy over Dragon Skin , produced by the now defunct Pinnacle Armor . Various claims surfaced that Dragon Skin was more effective at protecting soldiers than the then standard issue Interceptor Body Armor system, with independent studies and reports seeming to back these claims, eventually leading to multiple congressional members asking for further evaluation. In response,

5184-582: Was intended to replace the older All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE). The IIFS had its roots in the vests used by US Navy SEALS and other special operations forces in Vietnam . Developed at Natick , it consisted of the Individual Tactical Load Bearing Vest (ITLBV) and the Field Pack, Large, Internal Frame (FPLIF). A modified version of the combat field pack from

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