In 2019 the Army expects to roll out a new, lighter body armor system. The armor will provide at least as much protection as today's system, but with more comfort, and greater flexibility to adjust based on the mission, Army officials said.
The Torso and Extremities Protection, or TEP, program cleared the engineering and development phases last summer, and will move into a few years of limited production and testing. During that time and beyond, technology advances may be integrated.
Already, improved ballistics materials have allowed the Army to cut the weight of TEP, when compared to the Army’s current heavy-duty option, the Improved Outer Tactical Vest. The IOTV, when loaded with heavy plates, weighs about 31 pounds, while a comparable TEP system checks in at about 23 pounds, or 26 percent lighter.
The reduction in weight from 31 to 23 pounds is of enormous importance.
The maximum soldier load *should* be no more than 1/3 the soldier's weight. An average soldier weighing 175 pounds, therefore, should not have to bear more than 58 pounds. Of course, in reality, our troops often are forced to bear loads of over 100 pounds, greatly reducing their mobility, and causing sports type injuries far more often than they otherwise would occur.
Reducing the load by 8 pounds while improving mobility is statistically significant, and well worth the investment.
XBradTC 
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