Advanced Aircrew Body Armor.

Over the past thirty years, significant technological improvements have been made in materials need for ballistic protection. Incorporations of this cutting edge body armor technology will pay off with reduced thermal burden, diminished aircrew fatigue, and increased human performance. A review of existing work done by the US Navy and US Army on body armor was completed. The US Armys Survival and Rescue Vest Integrated packets SARVIP program has completed the entire acquisition process and is in full scale development. Regarding the requirement for body armor, AFSOC chose to purchase off-the-shelf body armor that met their needs. AFSOCs special missions group assessed the US Army test and evaluation data, and the integration of off-the-shelf armor with SARVIP in the aircraft in which the crews would be flying. Armstrong Laboratorys Crew Technology Division ALCFT recommended that the LPU-21PP be integrated with the SARVIP and engineering drawings were developed for attachment points on the vest. It was therefore concluded that the current commercially available body armor technology, need in combination with the US Armys SARVIP equipment, when modified as specified by ALCITS, will meet AFSOC requirements.