Hybrid Textile-Based Multi-Layered Flexible System for Penetration Resistance (MSC P5016)

The currently fielded Interceptor Body Armor System employs an Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) made of lightweight fabric material with Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPIs) for protection against fragmentation, small arms and rifle-fired threats. The SAPI plates are rigid and brittle, limiting their protection coverage area to the torso. In addition, the plates are susceptible to environmental degradation and damage in the field. Current personnel armor systems have also been shown to provide insufficient resistance to blunt trauma effects against certain threats. The proposed research will develop and demonstrate the performance of integrally woven 3-D hybrid fabric materials incorporating multiple fiber materials, nanoscale reinforcement and functional fabric constructions to address the need for lighter weight, enhanced flexibility/mobility, and wide area protection. Textile models, ballistic impact simulations and testing will be performed to select the best performing material systems and 3-D fabric architectures for Phase II prototype development and demonstration.