Why won't the Govenment issue Dragonskin body armour to our soldiers?

Question

I am disturbed that there are body armour called dragonskin vests that would protect our soldiers significately against bullets moreso than the government issued vests but the Gov't won't issue them. Don't you think it would be in the best interest of our soldiers to protect them by any means neccessary? Why won't they issue them? And does the military get some benefit from the fatalities of our men? Only serious minded answer. Not a joking matter. Thanks much.

Answer 1

Because of the exspense.

And it is not a foolproof system, might stop a small calibre round or some shrapnel, but aint gonna help against a 50+ Cal or a IED being detonated in your face.

Most times its a soldiers quick reactions that save his skin, being wrapped up like a mummy will seriously hinder his manouvreability and reaction.

Nothing worse than a soldier believing he is bullet-proof.

Answer 2

If you saw the program the other day on Dateline, you'd have your answer. The US military depends on it's research personnel to give an "honest" opinion of the worth of any products. The general or colonel who was in charge of the testing programs didn't give the dragonskin vest a fair shot. He was being "paid" and is now working for the competition. It is easy to see now but the government already made a committment.
I can remember, when I was in the Air Force, the construction projects that were going on, on different bases that I was assigned. The military has to have a five year advance on what they intend on doing. So, when you need a new dormitory to house personnel, you can expect to have it funded five years later. The problem is that contracts are awarded to construction companies, that use that advance notice and contract to borrow money from banks, etc., in order to gear up for the proposed construction. Now, two years later, the base is scheduled to be closed for base realignment or BRAC. Now the military has a choice. They can pay the contractor millions of dollars to do nothing, or they can pay them to build a building, that no one will use. Which choice is better? The same with the dragonskin. The government signed a contract with a company, who makes the "other" brand. Since they made the contract, the maker of the lesser quality vests, spends millions of dollars getting more equipment to meet the demands of making thousands of these vests. Then, along comes Dragonskin. A much better product, however, the government again has a choice to make. Give the company that makes the lower grade product millions of dollars for nothing, or buying the lesser product?
The whole procurement process is flawed. But, when you are ordering 100,000 of anything, you can't do it in a day.

Answer 3

ACTUALLY, check CNN because they just did a report on this:

Basically, the Army Ordnance folks TESTED the Dragonskin armor and found some SERIOUS problems: in high heat of 100 degrees F (summer in Iraq?) the Dragonskin body armor tends to delaminate... the armor-disks then SLIP and leave large portions of the body UNPROTECTED !!

The current armor doesn't provide as high a level of protection against high-power rifle rounds... but it doesn't suffer from the delamination problems... therefore it's the BEST armor currently.

The Chief of Army Ordnance said point blank "If Dragonskin can fix the problems... I'd like to buy it.

Answer 4

I dont think its a question of the military not issuing the best armor to our troops on purpose. The is no nefarious conspiracy to not give our troops the best we got.

First I had a flak vest...only good for protecting from fragments, not direct fire

Then got an interceptor vest, with the plates in this protects to multiple hits from a 7.62 bullet.

Then got an improved interceptor, with more protection. My old vest was still good...they just improved it and gave me a better one.

Uncle Sugar gives new stuff to the troops that need them most...Im sure there are people in the AOR wearing dragon skin.

It just takes time to produce new items and get them to the troops

Answer 5

Because,

1. dragaon skin armor, failed the militaries test.

It did not stop the bullets that it was required too.

2. Dragaon skin armor, fails to stand up to tempature extremes. It falls apart.

3. Dragon skin aromor, is very heavy. it weighs 47 pounds, vs 28 pounds for the armor used today.

4. The Army finally got fed up with the company that makes dragon skin body armor. So today, May 22, 2007, The army released it's test results on Dragan Skin.

Answer 6

Well if you get honest with yourself, what is war. Just a way to kill off young people. Makes for a better economy all around. If you send alot of people off to war, and already have alot in training, then that makes more jobs, the ones that the people in the armed forces would take up. A dead soldier cannot take a job when he or she comes back...
Point #2, if one is a professional in the armed forces, and knows there is better technology out there to save ones life, why don't they take their money and buy it... A mechanic has to buy their tools. The army doesn't make them buy their tank, hummer, or even food unless the person chooses to do so...
Point #3, there are alot of soldiers and families griping and complaining about fighting in a war. But when they were drawing the paychecks sitting at home they were more than happy with the money. Namely national guardsmen, drawing a monthly paycheck and having a career. All for the price of a weekend a month and two weeks a year. Now tell me they couldn't afford their own "jacket"...

Answer 7

#1 Reason - I'd guess price.

#2 Reason - Politics.

Military decisions are not simply made based on what is best for the soldier. It is very political and, believe it or not, financially driven. I think a human life is worth the investment, but various sorts of munitions/bombs/combat technology is more expensive. To change all of the armed forces over would be extremely costly in time and equipment, not to mention they may offend their suppliers (political influence). Fatalities are far easier for them to deal with considering both money and politics.

It's sad. I don't think it's right, but that's really what motivates the military in most all regards ... and we have one of the best, if not the very best, military forces in the world ...

Answer 8

Had a friend that went to Iraq in 2003 with dragonskin armor. It is a good vest and I am pretty impressed with it.

Answer 9

Dragon Skin AK47 AK MP5 Body Armor body-armor is more expensive and it was never in the budget.

I also believe that the companie(s) are not prepared for mass production.

It does NOT protect against Improvised Explosive Devices, IED's, since that are more dangerous shrapnel.

Answer 10

Because the stuff does no live up to the hype.

The stuff was tested by the Army and it _failed_.

Do you really want the US Army to issue _defective_ body armor?