Project Number:

N00421-21-9-0012

Member:

KIHOMAC

Award Amount:

$1,824,020

Description:

There is no known body armor plate design that is neutrally buoyant and provides the same level of ballistics protection as the current Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI). ESAPI body armor plate is the standard issue for military personnel and weighs up to 7.1 lbs. Helicopter aircrews that have ditched at sea must immediately remove their ESAPI plates and carrier from their bodies to prevent drowning. The purpose of this project is to develop a neutrally buoyant body armor plate that meets the ballistic protection level of ESAPI, while optimizing weight, volume and buoyancy performance in water of varying salinity.