US MCSC awards contract for lighter-weight body armour
October 05, 2018 - United States Of America
The US Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) had awarded a contract to Vertical Protective Apparel based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, to produce lighter-weight body armour, known as Plate Carrier Generation IIIs, according to the US department of defence (DoD) . The armour will help Marines increase their mobility and safety in training and deployments.
A maximum quantity of 225,886 will be delivered and the work will be completed by September 2023, said a statement from Kaitlin Kelly from MCSC’s public affairs division.
The body armor system will provide increased mobility, improved fit, lighter weight and additional modularity to support various types of missions. And compared to the legacy system, the PC Gen III offers increased ballistic protection and will be available in eight sizes to allow for a more customized fit across the Marine Corps, Kelly noted.
The vest weight has been reduced by a fourth, giving as much mobility back to Marines as possible by reducing the weight and bulk of the vest without decreasing ballistic protection.
A laminated laser-cut material was chosen that only absorbs 7 per cent of water compared to 70 per cent with the legacy system.
Infantry, school house, and Reconnaissance Marines, along with vehicle crewmen and combat engineers will receive the vests when fielding begins in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, according to MCSC. (DS)
A maximum quantity of 225,886 will be delivered and the work will be completed by September 2023, said a statement from Kaitlin Kelly from MCSC’s public affairs division.
The body armor system will provide increased mobility, improved fit, lighter weight and additional modularity to support various types of missions. And compared to the legacy system, the PC Gen III offers increased ballistic protection and will be available in eight sizes to allow for a more customized fit across the Marine Corps, Kelly noted.
The vest weight has been reduced by a fourth, giving as much mobility back to Marines as possible by reducing the weight and bulk of the vest without decreasing ballistic protection.
A laminated laser-cut material was chosen that only absorbs 7 per cent of water compared to 70 per cent with the legacy system.
Infantry, school house, and Reconnaissance Marines, along with vehicle crewmen and combat engineers will receive the vests when fielding begins in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, according to MCSC. (DS)