BANGALORE, November 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Company Will Deliver Next-generation Lightweight Helmets and Body Armor Inserts for the Soldier Protection System
The U.S. Army has selected Ceradyne, Inc., a 3M company, as the awardee for two low-rate initial production (LRIP) contracts for next-generation helmet systems and hard body armor inserts as part of the Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) and Vital Torso Protection (VTP) - Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) components of the Soldier Protection System (SPS).
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The army designed the IHPS to give soldiers a lighter-weight ballistic helmet system that also provides passive hearing protection and increased blunt-impact performance. This helmet system includes numerous accessories, including a mandible, visor, night vision goggle attachment device, rails and modular ballistic applique. The contract awarded to Ceradyne is valued at over $7 million for the delivery of more than 5,300 IHPS helmet systems. Production is expected to start in 2017.
The VTP will equip soldiers with lighter-weight body armor inserts. The $36 million contract is for the production of more than 30,000 ESAPI, with production also expected to start in 2017. This VTP award is an addition to a previous $34 million award, for a total of $70 million on the VTP LRIP contract.
"We are honored to be the awardee of these prestigious contracts," said Cheryl Ingstad, business manager, Advanced Ceramics Platform - Defense, 3M. "The SPS program represents the highest level of lightweight technology to date. Our focus from the onset has been to meet the Army's stringent specifications for the SPS, and that will continue as we move into initial production. As a leading science company, 3M has deep expertise in advanced lightweight materials, which, combined with our proven production history, differentiates our defense offerings."
"3M is proud to be part of U.S Army's vision to be technologically superior while safeguarding borders, and the interest of the country," said Mr P T Mukund, Executive Director, Industrial Business Group, 3M India Limited. He added, "This contract is a testimony to the quality and superior protection that we can offer to our customer in India too."
The SPS will replace the Army's current personal protective equipment (PPE) system. It is designed to defeat current threats while providing an overall weight reduction for soldiers compared to existing PPE. Both the IHPS and VTP began as research and development programs with multiple contenders.
Ceradyne has delivered more than 120,000 enhanced combat helmets (ECH) to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps since 2014. The ECH offers the highest protection level of any helmet in the U.S. Armed Forces inventory, even protecting against certain small arms threats. Ceradyne has also delivered more than 2 million hard body armor inserts to the U.S. Armed Forces to date.
For more information about soldier protection solutions provided by 3M, visit http://www.3M.com/Defense.
About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $30 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to the world's problems at http://www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.
3M India
3M was established in India in 1988 and has completed more than 28 years of operations. 3M India headquarters is based in Bengaluru with branch offices at Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. 3M leverages its global innovation expertise to develop home-grown solutions that address unique needs of diverse customers in the Indian market. 3M has invested in Innovation Centers at Bengaluru and Gurgaon to boost local product development, and its manufacturing footprint is spread across Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad. From products that improve manufacturing efficiency and healthcare delivery to safety markers that help increase road visibility, everyday kitchen and home care aids and car care products; today, 3M innovation touches millions of Indians - making lives easier and better.
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