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3M company Ceradyne to make body armour for US army

20 Oct '15

2 min read

Ceradyne, a 3M company, has received a contract modification worth US $34 million from the US army to provide 28,000 pieces of body armour under the Soldier Protection Systems Vital Torso Protection program for lightweight enhanced small arms protective inserts (ESAPI).

Worn by US soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, ESAPI ceramic armour plates are inserted into outer modular tactical vests to provide torso protection against small arms fire. Ceradyne-produced ESAPI plates reduce weight significantly over the previous generation of inserts while providing the same level of protection.

Cheryl Ingstad, business manager, Advanced Ceramics Platform – Defence, 3M said, “We've made it our mission to leverage innovation in advanced materials science to reduce the weight burden carried by soldiers. 3M's capability to decrease the weight of products, while maintaining or even enhancing performance characteristics, is well-recognised in industries from automotive to apparel. 3M has deep expertise in safety products used by the military, such as Peltor tactical communications systems from 3M, and head, eye, hearing and respiratory protection. 3M is the only provider to supply the US Armed Forces with both body armour and the most advanced helmet available, the enhanced combat helmet (ECH).”

Ingstad added, “Ceradyne has fielded over 100,000 ECHs and around 2 million body armour inserts to the US armed forces. Our speed in production and delivery is in part due to our major investment in state-of-the-art helmet manufacturing."

The ESAPI contract modification was issued under the Soldier Protection System Vital Torso Protection program, and covers low-rate initial production. Deliveries are expected to be completed throughout 2016, according to a press release. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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3M company Ceradyne to make body armour for US army

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