During our recent training, we were told that soldiers deploying to Afghanistan will not be wearing the Interceptor Body Armor that we're used to. Everybody in Afghanistan would be getting the same vest that the Special Forces has been using for a while. It looks like very similar protection but a more advanced and comfortable design (side-opening, quick-release, etc.).

I haven't found any news stories about it and haven't heard any mention of this elsewhere.

I'm not sure of the name of this armor. I've seen pictures labeled as BALCS and "Special Forces Body Armor" and "Type 23 Body Armor" and "Ceradyne." Is this vest just an updated version of the Interceptor Body Armor or is it truly different?

Maybe leaving out the SAPI plates to reduce weight?

Exact same SAPI plates. The Kevlar inside also looks very similar.

I'm leaning towards this just being an updated version of the IBA, maybe even just a different cover for exactly the same protection? Basically, the cut is a little different, and it opens on both sides instead of in the front. There is also a quick-release pulltab on the vest. I'll try to find pictures later.

A different vendor, then?

The guy in the foreground is wearing that vest, though the picture isn't great:


Another one, with the guy on the right. Again an unclear picture:


And another picture:


This view seems to show even less side protection than I remember:



Looking at the pictures, it appears to offer quite a bit less coverage than the IBA, though that's partly because the pictures don't have the neck, throat, and other add-ons. It's the same general principle with Kevlar and E-SAPI, though the kevlar appears to be somewhat smaller, and the design of the vest itself is quite different.

Anyone know what the name of this vest is? Or whether it is true that all soldiers (at least in Task Force Pheonix) deploying to Afghanistan will get it?

Looks like the new USMC vest.

This one? Slightly different design but extremely similar.

For what it's worth: Ceradyne is the name of a California-based ceramic (boron carbide) SAPI plate manufacturer. I don't think they make vests, though. Their SAPI plates go into any compatible vest (including Interceptor).

-- TTK

Thanks


So, does anybody know what body armor soldiers in Afghanistan are currently wearing? I take it that nobody has heard of any recent or proposed changes?

I've only heard about this from one source. That guy works at the Fort Riley MOB station, so it seems like he'd be in the know.

CJTF Phoenix folks at least wear IBA

Most likely, it is the IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical Vest):



This is what my wife's unit (a tactical PSYOP company) replaced their IBAs with once in country, and it is what I was just issued for my upcoming (January) deployment to Iraq. It is made by Point Blank and one other contractor that I can't remember off the top of my head. It uses the Enhanced SAPI plates and is ~ 3 pounds lighter than the IBA.

Excellent - that's exactly the information I was looking for.

Out of curiousity why are those vests the single colour brown instead of the ACU pattern like older inteceptor vests? Are they just direct from USMC stocks? Seems an odd retrograde...

Most likely not issued - privately purchased plate carriers/OTVs...