Army to field improved body armor plate

Stronger protection
X Small Arms Protective Inserts to replace ESAPI


Army to field improved body armor plate
By Matthew Cox - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 15, 2008 17:22:38 EDT

Three defense contractors will begin making the next generation of body armor plates for soldiers in combat early next year, Army officials said Wednesday.

The Army has tapped BAE Systems Aerospace & Defense Group Inc., Ceradyne Inc. and The Protective Group to produce X Small Arms Protective Inserts as part of three Oct. 3 contract awards worth more than $6 billion.

Body armor officials began searching for the new protective plate technology in May 2007 in an effort to equip soldiers with armor that outperforms the current Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts currently fielded.

The body armor soldiers wear in Iraq and Afghanistan consists of vests designed to protect against shrapnel and 9mm rounds, fitted with protective composite ceramic ESAPI and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts. Together the system protects against large caliber ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds.

Program Executive Office Soldier officials would not release specifics on XSAPI’s performance, but said “ESAPI protects against the current ballistic threat and XSAPI will defeat potential emerging ballistic threats, as well as protecting against current ballistic threats,” PEO Soldier spokesman Adam Warfield said in a Sept. 15 written response to Army Times questions.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/army_plates_101508w/%2e