Vector Strategy Reports on US Military Body Armor Trends and Offers Webcasts
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.-(Business Wire)-August 31, 2009 - In a recently published report, Vector Strategy forecasts that the US Military will procure $6 billion of body armor for US Army Soldiers and Marines between 2009 and 2015 and require between 70 and 75 million pounds of material to produce that armor including ceramic tiles, aramid and UHMWPE fibers, and other non ballistic materials. This procurement includes sustainment needs required to maintain current body armor system components, as well as next generation body armor components such as the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH), Plate Carriers, the Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) for the Marines, and the Next Generation Vest which will replace the US Army’s current Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV).
According to Marcia Price, President of Vector Strategy, “That $6 billion of body armor will not be procured evenly between 2009 and 2015. There will be surges required for specific theater needs; and the development and procurement of the Next Generation Vest and Plate will cause procurement volume fluctuations between now and 2015. The market will rely substantially on sustainment requirements in certain fiscal years.”
Military priorities and initiatives in the next two to three years include enhancements and improvements to current body armor components, as well as procurement of body armor to fulfill special near term theater needs. Specific programs within this timeframe include the IMTV for the USMC, USMC and US Army Plate Carriers, design enhancements to the current IOTV, the ECH, lighter weight ESAPIs and XSAPIs with current ballistic performance requirements, and lighter weight plates with lower ballistic protection levels.
It is important for body armor manufacturers to understand the Land Warrior (LW) and Ground Soldier Ensemble (GSE) systems. Although body armor is not a primary component of these systems, these systems must be integrated with body armor worn by the Soldier. Integrating LW and GSE with body armor will become increasingly important as these systems undergo prototype and operational testing through 2010, and possibly broader deployment in 2011 or 2012 with spinouts of the Future Combat System network.
Although development has been initiated on scalable and mission tailorable body armor systems, Vector Strategy believes these systems will not be ready for procurement until 2012 or later. The Next Generation Body Armor System will be developed and procured between 2012 and 2015. This system will exhibit new design and performance characteristics.
Vector Strategy believes that flexible body armor systems will not be ready for large scale procurement and deployment within the US Army or USMC until approximately 2015. This is due to a need for development of specifications and test protocols, a lack of current technical maturity, prohibitive cost, and the need to integrate the technology into a total body armor system redesign.
The USMC and US Army are conducting a joint effort to develop requirements for the Next Generation Combat Helmet (NGCH). Natick has proposed a development project that would initiate design work on a headgear system that would spin off technologies to support the NGCH program. This project is proposed for 2010, but is not yet approved. Natick hopes to transition the project to PEO Soldier or a joint program office in 2013. Vector Strategy has forecasted initial low rate production orders of the NGCH in 2015.
Additional industry insight is available in Vector Strategy’s most recent report, titled US Military Body Armor Industry: Forecast and Analysis. This 272 page document was published on August 10, 2009 after 10 months of extensive primary and secondary research. More information is available on Vector Strategy’s website at www.vector-strategy.com. Vector Strategy will host webcasts throughout September for parties interested in viewing and discussing the report in further detail prior to purchase. Contact Vector Strategy at 910-420-2208 or mprice@vector-strategy.com to schedule a webcast.
About Vector Strategy, Inc. Vector Strategy provides forecasts and services that advise companies in the military armor industry of technology trends, government procurement, market size and growth, industry players, and supply chain issues.
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