Огнестрельное и газовое оружие

Chairman Taylor, Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Akin, Ranking Member Bartlett, and distinguished members of the committees: Thank you for the opportunity to testify at this important hearing and discuss updates in Army Force Protection. The IOTV's ballistic inserts provide protection against rifle-caliber rounds and fragmentation, and the vest itself, without inserts, will provide protection against some small caliber rounds and blast fragmentation.

To improve safety and Soldier confidence in the reliability of the ESAPI and ESBI plates, the Army has fielded Non-Destructive Test Equipment (NDTE) and implemented periodic testing of protective inserts. These helmet sensors recorded blast and impact data, and this information is being used to learn more about blast events that may cause Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI). A Soldier's protective and ballistic plates are scanned at the midpoint of their combat tour with the NDTE system and by the Soldier as part of their pre- and post-combat equipment checks.

In an effort to lighten the load of Soldiers operating in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, the Army began the procurement in October 2009 of 57,000 plate carriers. The Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) is compatible with modular lightweight load-carrying equipment and represents a marked improvement over the body armor worn by earlier generations. Your support and the support of the American people continue to make a profound difference in the ability of the Army to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, assist our friends and allies, support civil authorities in the homeland, and deter or defeat emerging threats to our national security. In response to the continued threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, and other non-traditional threats, the Army has pursued numerous ground-breaking initiatives to enhance the mobility, lethality, and survivability of Soldiers and the formations in which they serve. The second initiative featured the fielding of first generation helmet sensors in March 2008 to two brigade combat teams (BCT). With your support, the American Soldier is better equipped and better protected than at any time today in our nation's history.

The brave men and women serving today represent the best of our society, and they continue to perform magnificently against a determined enemy in a complex and dangerous operational environment. Later this year, the Army plans to field 30,000 Generation II helmet sensors. The first initiative was the development and fielding of an accessory Neck Armor Protective Enhancement (NAPE) pad that protects the neck from ballistic fragmentation, while at the same time increasing helmet stability. In February 2010 the Army began fielding plate carriers to units in Afghanistan and thus far has delivered almost 14,000 sets to Soldiers in the field.

In addition to the IOTV and armor plate carrier, today's Soldiers are equipped with the advanced combat helmet (ACH). The NDTE program provides a scientific inspection process to identify deficiencies not detected by human inspection and will assist equipment developers in determining life expectancy of plates. The body armor plate carrier is not a replacement for the IOTV, but a lightweight alternative for commanders to consider when planning their missions. The sensors will give equipment developers insight into the design of the next generation helmet and possibly aid the medical community in preventing, treating, and mitigating the effects of mTBI. Irregular warfare is not only complex and unpredictable; it presents dangers and asymmetric challenges that call for timely and innovative force protection measures. In 2007 the Army launched two additional helmet-related initiatives. A medium-size plate carrier is more than five pounds lighter than a medium IOTV. The weapons, tactics, and motivation of today's adversaries vary widely. Several items of individual protective gear are built around and integrated with this critical piece of equipment. Therefore, the threats to the deployed force are constantly changing in scope, character, and intensity. The ACH is lighter, provides better protection, and offers a wider field of vision and hearing over the older Personnel Armor System Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet. Protection of our Soldiers and critical warfighting assets remains the Army's highest priority.

The persistent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrate the ability of terrorists, insurgents, and other armed factions to use unconventional strategies to inflict casualties and undermine the security of developing nations. This vest is three pounds lighter than its predecessor, provides better protection, and features Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI), Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI), and deltoid protectors. These initiatives are contained in complementary and overlapping layers of protection, which include: continuous improvements in individual Soldier protection; new and enhanced armored wheel and tracked vehicles, active and passive base defense capabilities; improved battlefield situational awareness with better intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; as well as advances in biometrics and robotics capabilities.

Just as Soldiers are the centerpiece of our formations, interceptor body armor is the centerpiece of individual Soldier protection. After more than eight years of continuous combat, we recognize the importance of keeping our deployed forces at the highest possible level of readiness and providing them the best capabilities available. Generation II sensors are smaller, lighter, and have a longer battery life (one year versus six months in first generation sensors). Army body armor is the best in the world. We are actively participating with the Marines in the development of the Enhanced Combat Helmet to provide even further ballistic protection to the head.