Dissing the Dragon?
When the latest body armor flap broke ten days ago, several commenters here talked up the Dragon Skin protective system as a better alternative. Now, Soldiers for the Truth -- the group which ignited the current armor debate -- is passing on reports from two deploying GIs that "their commander told them if they were wearing Pinnacle Dragon Skin and were killed their beneficiaries might not receive the death benefits from their $400,000 SGLI life insurance policies."
According to Defense Review -- which has been tracking Pinnacle's gear for a while -- the Skin is basically your standard body armor, laced with silver-dollar sized ceramic discs. These are configured over the vest like scales (hence the "Dragon" sobriquet).
Some folks say the Skin is at least as tough as standard-issue armor, and it's flexible, too -- which should make it more comfortable. But, if I'm reading right, the basic Dragon Skin vest weighs about 8 lbs. more than the Interceptor OTV armor that soldiers generally wear now. That extra weight, I'm guessing, is the reason why one commander tried to spook his men out of their Skin. And I have a feeling this is just one commander's words -- not some Pentagon-wide directive, as SFTT implies. We'll see.
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Nasty stryker infantry? I guess I'll take that as a compliment. Anyway, it amazes me how you can have undeniable proof in your face and yet you're still blind to the facts. The only reason we have the IBA is because of a buddy buddy contract. (Anyone remember the M4) I don't believe in thinking something is better because my CO tells me it is. Dragon Skin is superior, and look on You Tube if you don't believe me. Anybody who has deployed with the IBA knows how cumbersome and poor it really is. And what pog unit actually uses the shoulder protectors? I'd rather have a plate carrier than an IBA. Every IED been a part of the IBA has been literally blown off. If the army won't buy it for soldiers they should at least lift the ban.
Posted by: Joe at March 17, 2009 08:21 PM