U.S. Air Force Sets the Record Straight on Dragon Skin Body Armor

U.S. Air Force Sets the Record Straight on Dragon Skin Body Armor

Published by David Crane in Body Armor on April 17th, 2006

by David Crane
david at defensereview.com

In our latest article on Pinnacle Armor SOV/Dragon Skin body armor, DefenseReview discussed the extensive and unrefutable (unclassified) ballistic test data on Dragon Skin that we recently viewed with our own eyes. This data was compiled by three different well-known ballistic test centers (ATC, USTL, and H.P. White). In fact, to my knowledge, I was the first person outside of Pinnacle Armor and the U.S. military to view this data.

While I was there, I had the opportunity to read a document that proves that Pinnacle Armor did not fail any U.S. Air Force ballistic test, as certain parties within the U.S. Army have recently claimed. With regard to this subject, Pinnacle Armor has issued the following press release, and they’ve sent it to DefenseReview, first:…

"The Air Force Office of Special Investigations‘ (AFOSI) February 2006 tests of the Dragon Skin(r) level III body armor at Aberdeen Test Center did not fail any written contract specifications with the Air Force. AFOSI, because it conducts counter-threat operations in hostile environments on a daily basis, has a requirement for a high level of ballistic performance, with a greater area of coverage in a lighter weight system, which also allows for better mobility to execute specific mission needs. Pinnacle is meeting that requirement. The decision to return the vests to Pinnacle following testing was a mutual decision to allow Pinnacle to address a manufacturing issue, but that issue did not affect the vests’ performance during testing. AFOSI remains highly committed to having this body armor contract completed as planned, and the vests tested to meet this requirement and returned to their agents and support personnel deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. AFOSI was given an opportunity to review the content of this press release and agreed with its content. Should you have any questions for AFOSI, their POC is Capt Regen Wilson, (240) 857-0989."