PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency has awarded BAE Systems approximately $60 million in orders to produce additional tactical vests equipped with body armor. Known for protecting a soldier’s vital organs, the company’s Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) has become an equipment piece of choice for the U.S. Army.
"The third-generation design of the IOTV, which the Army adopted last year, provides the soldier with a number of benefits, including a 10 percent weight reduction in the armor system,” said Eric Gavelda, director of Warfighter Protection at BAE Systems. “This helps the soldier stay agile, and supports the Army’s mission to provide lighter, more efficient equipment.”
Among its features, The IOTV is designed to be compatible with a number of equipment pieces. These include Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment, hard and soft body armor inserts, and the Tactical Assault Panel — all manufactured by BAE Systems.
Since 2007, BAE Systems has produced more than 900,000 outer tactical vests and armor systems for U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. The new orders are part of a four-year contract issued in March, which could reach a cumulative value of $267 million. The company has so far received more than $140 million under this contract.
The vests will be produced at the company’s Jessup, Pennsylvania and McKee, Kentucky facilities. The new orders are scheduled to be complete by December 2014.
BAE Systems is a leading provider of soldier protective and load carrying equipment in the United States, producing a significant portion of the nation’s body armor, tactical vests, combat helmets, and load carrying systems. The company is focused on the design, development, and production of leading-edge survivability products. Its integration of advanced materials into manufacturing, rigorous product testing, and field trials support BAE Systems’ focus on the men and women who serve in the armed forces.
