Arthur D. Little Team Awarded $1.9 Million Contract By U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- In a move that will modernize military body armor and backpack equipment, the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command awarded a team led by Arthur D. Little (ADL) which includes The North Face, Inc., DHB Armor Group, and Simula Government Products, a contract for the design and development of the Modular Body Armor/Modular Load System (MBA/MLS). This contract also includes options for the production of over 100,000 units for the initial equipment fielding over a seven year period. If this system is selected by the Army, it will provide an integrated, component- based system which, over time, will fully replace the body armor and load carrying pack systems currently in use by US troops.
The goal of the MBA/MLS system is to improve soldier effectiveness and operational efficiency while providing enhanced soldier safety and survivability. The procurement required potential contractors to develop a modular system that could be tailored for specific missions, fit a broad range of body types with few unique sizes, was simple to use, and feasible to manufacture using proven technology.
"This contract recognizes the soldier as a human-centered system," notes Arthur Schwope, Vice President and Managing Director of ADL's Personnel Protection and Functional Clothing business. "Our approach integrates best- in-class manufacturers into the design and development process to shorten development time and produce an affordable product that maximizes operational performance."
To optimize the development of the MBA/MLS system, ADL will balance system performance, efficiency, and survivability with comfort, reliability, ease-of-use, and cost. The new system will be compatible with existing U.S. military equipment including weapons and vehicles. The modular design will also allow component replacement and adaptability. For example, modular body armor components such as a throat protector, can be added to the system to increase the level of protection of the baseline vest. In addition, the new system will be lightweight, provide a stable platform for equipment without interfering in a soldier's mobility, and be capable of reconfiguration based on the needs of the environment and mission.
"By developing the body armor and backpack system concurrently, equipment compatibility can be ensured, weight can be reduced, and ease of use can be improved," notes Mark Sinofsky, ADL Program Manager. "The body armor and load bearing subsystems are fully functional independently. However, when they are integrated, they won't degrade agility, mobility, or comfort."
The MBA/MLS will have a simple quick release mechanism which will allow a soldier to doff the load pack to maintain optimum mobility while sustaining the body armor protection. The solder can later re-attached the pack to the frame without assistance. The system design lends itself to technology upgrades such as the insertion of emerging lighter-weight materials and additional component modules.
Arthur D. Little, the Cambridge-based international technology and management consulting organization, provides services in three areas: management consulting, technology and product development, and environmental, health and safety consulting. For more than two decades, Arthur D. Little experts in human factors, materials and textiles, industrial and clothing design, and mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering have set the standard for developing and testing protective and functional clothing, equipment, and systems for governments and industry worldwide. For more information, visit the Arthur D. Little home page arthurdlittle.com.
The North Face, Inc., designs and distributes technically sophisticated outerwear, skiwear, functional sportswear, tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks under The North Face name. The Company sells its products to select specialty retailers throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada. The North Face will design and manufacture the MLS.
By combining the strengths of Point Blank Body Armor, Inc. and Protective Apparel Corporate of America, DHB Armor Group, Inc., the industry's leading innovator of body armor, is recognized worldwide as the premier manufacturer of cutting edge technology for ballistic vests and protective apparel. DHB Armor Group will design and manufacture the soft body armor components for the MBA. Point Blank Body Armor, Inc., based in Oakland Park, FL, excels in the design and development of state-of-the-art equipment used through the DHB Armor Group, Inc.
Simula Government Products, Inc. possesses extensive experience in ceramic/composite armor designs including energy absorption technologies. Located in Tempe, AZ, the company currently provides over two-thirds of the world's crashworthy helicopter seats and is one of the largest manufacturers of lightweight armor in the U.S. Simula Government Products will engineer and manufacture rigid armor inserts for the MBA.
/CONTACT: Randi Alterman of Arthur D. Little, 617-498-5119 or
alterman.r@adlittle.com/
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