Tag Archives: body armor

Flexible Biological Scalar Body Armor for Future Soldiers?

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com July 31, 2008 MIT materials science and engineering researchers are studying the flexible biological scalar armor system a.k.a. flexible dermal armor system utilized by Polypterus senegalus a.k.a. Senegal bichir a.k.a. Gray bichir a.k.a. "dinosaur eel", a "living fossil" fish, for its potential applicability for developing more advanced military body armor, vehicle armor …

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Springfield Armory XDM Pistol: 16+1 Rounds of .40 S&W Firepower

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com July 26, 2008 For the last few years, DefenseReview has received some pretty glowing feedback on the Springfield Armory XD45 (eXtreme Duty 45) .45 ACP pistol. One of the primary aspects of the XD45 pistol that the professionals we’ve interviewed appreciate is its fully-supported chamber which allows them to fire high-pressure +P …

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Colt M4 Carbine’s Future Uncertain: Dark Clouds Forming

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com Perhaps the single most exciting thing that happened at NDIA International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Systems Symposium 2008–away from the firing range, of course–was a confrontation between Jim Battaglini (Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James R. Battaglini) of Colt Defense and U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Mattes, the director of …

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DuPont Kevlar XP: Next-Gen, Lightweight Aramid Ballistic Fiber for Soft Body Armor Panels

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com June 23, 2008 Imagine having a 100% Kevlar high-strength woven aramid ballistic fiber solution with 15% less backface deformation signature (BDS), yielding reduced impact trauma a.k.a. blunt force trauma, along with a 10% reduction in overall (OA) weight. This is the promise of DuPont Kevlar® XP™ woven ballistic aramid fiber for military …

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Army Acquisition Capos Fraudulently Alter Body Armor Test Results

By Roger Charles, DefenseWatch June 12, 2008 Thanks to an Air Force debarment action against Pinnacle Armor, manufacturer of Dragon Skin body armor, documents have been obtained, and witnesses deposed that provide hard evidence that the Army Acquisition capos fraudulently altered test reports to reflect the results desired by this band of criminal knaves. And, they did so knowing full …

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Mystery: Attempt(s) to Sell Level IV Dragon Skin Body Armor on eBay

By Roger Charles 02-14-2008 While investigating offers on eBay for the sale of two Dragon Skin body armor vests, DefenseWatch discovered that a congressional staffer had confirmed that there is a DOJ IBA Task Force investigating the Army’s body armor procurement program. What began as a rather routine inquiry into the commonplace sale of military equipment on the inter-net soon …

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Sandbox Field Report Part 1: Marvel Custom Tactical 1911 Pistol (Single Stack) Perform Downrange

by David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com December 21, 2007 Last updated on 7/30/11. Recently, DefenseReview published an article on custom tactical 1911 pistols built by Bob Marvel of Bob Marvel Guns a.k.a. Marvel Custom Pistols. It’s our understanding that Bob makes some of the most reliable tactical 1911 pistols in the United States, and thus the world, so …

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