| US Army Values Weapons Over Armor | | | | they either prepare for shipment overseas or return |
| August 2nd, 2006 3:29PM California TimeIn this first | | | | to the States for repair and refurbishment.This |
| article, titled: 'Inside Source Says US Military Supplying | | | | source maintains that the US Military is NOT, repeat, |
| Defective Protective Gear' we learned that the | | | | not utilizing these materials in the protection of our |
| United States Army was at the time providing | | | | soldiers, even though a manufacturer has been |
| inadequate and defective bullet-proofing materials to | | | | acquired and over 1000 actual armor plate units have |
| our troops on the ground in Iraq.The status of the | | | | been shipped to the Military for installment on these |
| provisions for our troops cited therein came after an | | | | vehicles. Our source goes on to decry the lack of |
| enormous outcry on a nationwide level, demanding | | | | floor plating used in armoring ground vehicles.This |
| that the military provide our forces with the best | | | | author will state that while 'special tools' may not be |
| protection available.In the wake of the report | | | | required to drop plate armor onto the floor of a |
| regarding the materials obtained and utilized from | | | | vehicle, it does take a significant amount of work to |
| Logistics Support Systems, my sources have | | | | expose the floor of the vehicle before the plating |
| informed me that the primary manufacturer of | | | | can be attached. Helicopter seats don't just 'pop' in |
| defense technology for US Aircraft (Helicopters | | | | and out. Neither do seats on a Humvee or |
| specifically) has been replaced. I never received a | | | | Ambrams.ArmorWorks (cited above), has stated |
| response from Logistic Support Systems defending | | | | publicly that, |
| their product, or offering any sort of evidence to | | | | "Our Ballistic Advantage Armor Kit has received |
| justify it's use in Iraq. Nor have I been able to | | | | Army safety release from the U.S. Army Aberdeen |
| independently verify that Logistics Support Systems | | | | Evaluation Center. These tests not only certify the |
| was indeed the primary supplier of these defective | | | | Armor against Small Arms, Mine Blast, and Improvised |
| and inadequate defense measures.It appears now | | | | Explosive Devices (IEDs), but also demonstrate the |
| that the US Army has found the materials the public | | | | vehicles road worthiness both on and off road."My |
| is demanding. To date, however, I've seen no | | | | question, along with millions of other American |
| evidence of a purchase order.The Company (one | | | | Citizens, then becomes simple.If the US Military has |
| among many) providing these materials, can be found | | | | been provided with field tested equipment, capable |
| online at: | | | | of providing protection from every weapon known |
| to the information available on their website, they | | | | to be used in the field against our troops while |
| provide Seat Armor for the CH47 Chinook Helicopter. | | | | occupying Iraq, why is this equipment not in |
| The specifications for this are listed as | | | | place?The stated reason for not up-armoring vehicles |
| follows:7.62mm AP ProtectionAl2O3 Armor | | | | was exactly the same from all 3 sources within the |
| SystemBallistic First ArticleLot Acceptance TestThe | | | | US Army that have verified this report.That reason |
| part is listed as 'Mission Dependent' meaning it can | | | | being, "When you up-armor a vehicle, it adds a lot of |
| either be used or not at the discretion of the US | | | | weight. This makes that vehicle unable to carry the |
| Military.Similar parts, advertised with similar specs, | | | | payload the mission requires. Usually it's a choice |
| claim to protect both the floor of the cockpit, and of | | | | between sending in our troops and weapons with |
| the passenger cabin, respectively. They are | | | | little or no protection, or not sending them in at |
| promoted as able to be installed by 'front-line | | | | all."This author for one would choose not sending |
| personnel' and do not require special tools in 'most' | | | | them at all, but to the point, this report makes it |
| cases.One of the sources bringing this information to | | | | clear where the priorities of the US Army lie. |
| you happens to work in the armoring of vehicles as | | | | |