May 28, 2007: The recent controversy over Dragon
Skin body armor has raised far more questions than answers. In one sense, it
shows that the Army is serious about getting its troops the best armor
available. In another sense, it shows how the media can royally get things
wrong ? and in getting it wrong can get troops killed. How? Because they can
create the impression that something is effective, when it really isn't.
The Dragon Skin armor was intended to provide
better all-around protection against incoming fire. One problem with most
protective vests is that there are places where the protective ceramic plates for
the Interceptor armor currently in service don't extend. This has caused the
deaths of policemen in the U.S. and military personnel overseas. Dragon Skin
was intended to provide better protection through the use of many smaller
ceramic, tiles that overlapped, providing a flexible armor.
One American TV network broadcast material that
seemed to indicate that Dragon Skin performed better than the current
Interceptor. However, the Army has now released the results of other tests,
done by an independent lab in 2006, which showed that Dragon Skin armor failed
in a number of areas, including those concerning high temperatures, often after
one or two shots. This is not a good thing in combat. Furthermore, the ceramic
tiles have proven to be fragile ? far more so than the Interceptor's ceramic
plates.
The other problem for Dragon Skin is weight: It is
about 20 pounds heavier than the 28 pound Interceptor Armor. This is not a
minor detail for the poor grunts ? it's a major problem. The troops also have
to carry a loaded M16 or M4 rifle, plus a number of spare clips for that weapon
(usually six, but sometimes more). If their M16 or M4 has the M203 grenade
launcher, they are carrying the grenades for that. They also tend to carry a
loaded M9 pistol, and a couple of spare clips for that as well. Not to mention
a first-aid kit, Camelbak or canteens full of water, knife, hand grenades
(usually three or four), MRE, cans of silly string (to find trip wires), radio,
and other gear (to include notebooks, pens, and a helmet). This could mean a
soldier gets tired sooner when wearing Dragon Skin, and more prone to heat
related injuries in hot climates. If a soldier wearing Dragon Skin is wounded,
the Dragon Skin means that there is 20 pounds more for a medic to drag to
cover.
The Army has prohibited the use of Dragon Skin by
soldiers ? largely due to these problems. The problem the Army now faces is the
fact that Dragon Skin has a lot of Congressional support. The manufacturer of
Dragon Skin has claimed that the Army is lying ? in essence claiming the Army
rigged the tests. In fact, the Army did the tests last year at the insistence
of Congress ? who wanted the armor to be given a chance. Now that the armor has
failed, the manufacturer is going to the court of public opinion to overturn
the verdict of the Army, based on its tests. Now, the Army is caught in a
battle to not only save the lives of its troops, but the reputation of those
who test equipment for the troops. ? Harold C. Hutchison (haroldc.hutchison@gmail.com)
