U.S. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, meets with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Leaders in the box at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif, Nov. 6, 2016. Milley spoke to officers and Soldiers alike, offering insight about the future of the Army, the importance of the National Training Center, and the value of finishing a college education. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Austin Anyzeski, 11th ACR)
By Matthew Beinart |
@mbeinart22
5 years ago |
03/07/2019

The Army has selected three companies to compete for orders to deliver lightweight body armor under a new $704 million deal, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

U.S. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, meets with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Leaders in the box at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif, Nov. 6, 2016.

Leading Technology Composites, TenCate Advanced Armor USA and Ceradyne Inc., a subsidiary of 3M [MMM], will support deliveries for Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert and X-Small Arms Protective Insert hard armor plates.

The three companies were the only vendors to submit bids for the work, which is expected to be completed in March 2023.

The Army has used ESAPI armor plates since 2005 and built to offer protection from .30-06 ammunition.

XSAPI is the Army’s next-generation armor plate, first delivered in 2008, and designed to protect against a greater range of threats than the ESAPI.