Modular Scalable Vest Explained

Modular Scalable Vest
Origin:United States of America
Type:Body armor
Service:2018–present

The Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) is a bullet-resistant vest that has been introduced by the United States Armed Forces in 2018.

The Modular Scalable Vest is replacing all other body armor systems in use, including the OTV (Outer Tactical Vest), IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical Vest) and SPCS (Soldier Plate Carrier System).[1] The MSV is 5lb lighter when fully loaded with ballistic plates compared with its predecessor, the IOTV.[2] The MSV fully loaded weighs 25lb.[3]

History

The U.S. Air Force has begun to issue the MSV to replace the IOTV, with the goal of issuing it exclusively by the end of fiscal year 2022.[4]

Design

The MSV has a four-tier configuration, allowing it to be scaled up or down depending on the threat and mission requirements

  1. Concealable soft body armor
  2. Hard armor plates and soft body armor
  3. Carrier with ballistic plates and soft armor
  4. Carrier with ballistic plates and soft armor as well as a "ballistic combat shirt" with "built in neck, shoulder and pelvic protection and a belt system to move items from the vest to the hips."[5]

Only a few ballistic material suppliers have been able to comply with the armor panel weight specifications demanded by the US Military: Teijn Aramid, DSM Dyneema and Honeywell Spectra.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vazquez . Daniel . The Missing Aspect of Soldier Lethality: Improved Armor Carriers in a Constrained Fiscal Environment by CPT Daniel Vazquez . Soldier Systems Daily . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915092025/https://soldiersystems.net/2020/04/11/the-missing-aspect-of-soldier-lethality-improved-armor-carriers-in-a-constrained-fiscal-environment-by-cpt-daniel-vazquez/ . 15 September 2021 . 11 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Florida Soldiers Test Army's New Body Armor. 2017-11-06. bodyarmornews.com. 2018-06-28.
  3. Web site: New in 2018: Army to issue new body armor to soldiers. 2017-01-01. armytimes.com. 2018-06-28.
  4. Web site: Allyson B. Crawford, AFLCMC Public Affairs . Human Systems delivers better protection for warfighters in rapid time . 15 October 2021 . 2 May 2022 . Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
  5. Web site: Pounds . Lance . Fort Carson Soldiers field-test new body armor . US Army . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211009175627/https://www.army.mil/article/195992/fort_carson_soldiers_field_test_new_body_armor . 9 October 2021 . 26 October 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Modular Scalable Vest".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.