PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract modification worth $45
million for the low-rate initial production of lightweight torso and
side body
armor that protects soldiers while reducing their carrying load.
People are also reading…
The modification was awarded under the Soldier Protection System Vital
Torso Protection program, which represents the future in lightweight,
high-performance hard body armor.
“This award shows the continued importance of BAE Systems to the Army’s
drive to deliver the lightest weight body armor available today,” said
Robert Monks, director of Warfighter Protection Programs at BAE Systems.
“It positions us to continue as a leading supplier of the lightest,
next-generation body armor for the U.S. Department of Defense.”
Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide three armor variants: the
Lightweight X Small Arms Protective Insert (XSAPI), a torso plate that
protects against various threats; and two side plate variants, the
Lightweight X Side Ballistic Insert (XSBI) and Lightweight Enhanced Side
Ballistic Insert (ESBI), which enhance the protection afforded by the
torso plates. These plates offer the same level of ballistic performance
as previous generations but are at least seven percent lighter, reducing
the load on the warfighter.
BAE Systems will deliver more than 90,000 plates under the contract
modification. The work is underway at the company’s Phoenix, Arizona,
facility.
BAE Systems’ ballistic experts continuously work to develop and enhance
the company’s hard and soft body armor solutions to provide better
performance and protection while decreasing weight. BAE Systems has
produced and delivered more than 1.25 million hard armor inserts since
1998, and to this day remains at the forefront of vital soldier
protection equipment that keeps our warfighers safe.
Contacts
BAE Systems
Cynthia Carey, +1 586-795-7888
Mobile: +1 586-291-1312