By Debbie Gregory.

The Marine Corps has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new lightweight body armor plate to protect Marines from rifle fire on the battlefield.

Marine Corps Systems Command is seeking RFPs for plates that are some 38 percent lighter than the current plates. The new plates will be fielded in addition to the enhanced small arms protective insert (ESAPI) plates now in use to give commanders a lighter option for low-intensity threat environments.

In August, Marine Corps Systems Command assessed industry’s capability to make a plate that would supplement the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert, or ESAPI plates, and provide sufficient protection for the majority of combat environments. MCSC’s Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment held Industry Days Oct. 17-18, and met with 12 companies to receive feedback on the draft solicitation documents.

“These new plates will be fielded in addition to the existing ESAPI plates,” said Nick Pierce, Individual Armor Team lead in MCSC’s PM ICE. “We expect the plates to be at least 38% lighter than the ESAPI which will significantly increase the mobility of Marines on the battlefield.”

All proposals are due in March 2019, and a contract is expected to be awarded in July 2019, according to the release. Initial fielding could happen as early as fiscal 2020, officials said.

“This, along with other recent initiatives such as the Plate Carrier Gen III, are part of a holistic effort to modernize the personal protective equipment set to give Marines better, lighter, more effective gear,” Pierce said.

The Corps awarded a $62 million contract in late September to New Jersey-based Vertical Protective Apparel LLC to produce and deliver up to 225,886 Plate Carrier Generation IIIs.

The new plate carrier design features less material to make them lighter than the current carriers. They also are made from a laminated laser-cut material, which reduces water absorption.

By Debbie Gregory.

As soon as next summer, the U.S. Marines will start receiving next-generation plate carriers that will be less bulky and lighter in weight, providing a smaller overall footprint than the current plate carrier, all the while maintaining the same soft armor coverage and protection level.

Vertical Protective Apparel LLC was awarded a $62,612,464 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to produce and deliver the Plate Carrier Generation III (PC Gen III). A maximum quantity of 225,886 will be delivered, and the work will be completed by September 2023. The New Jersey-based company will manufacture the new carriers in eight sizes.

Infantry, schoolhouse and reconnaissance Marines, along with vehicle crewmen and combat engineers, will be the first to get the vests when fielding begins around June 2019. All of the plate carriers are expected to be delivered by September 2023.

The PC Gen III comes in three new sizes for Marines of smaller stature. And compared to the current legacy system, the PC Gen III offers increased ballistic protection. Additionally, since it’s lighter than the legacy system, it helps cut down on the fatigue Marines face in the field.

“This new system is more tailorable to fit Marines of various sizes with three new smaller-stature options,” said Flora ‘Mackie’ Jordan, body armor engineer for the Infantry Combat Equipment Team at the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC). “We wanted to give as much mobility back to Marines as possible by reducing the weight and bulk of the vest without decreasing ballistic protection. We were able to reduce the weight of the vest by 25 percent.”

To achieve that result, excess material was removed from the shoulders and bottom of the plate.

The Plate Carrier Generation III is also made from a laminated laser-cut material, which cuts down on water absorption. The new system takes on about 7 percent of water, compared to the 70 percent absorbed by the current system.

Infantry, school house, and Reconnaissance Marines, along with vehicle crewmen and combat engineers will receive the vests when fielding begins in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, according to MCSC.

By Debbie Gregory.

October 31st is the deadline for gear makers who want to respond to the Marine Corps Systems Command’s Request for Information (RFI) for new reliable magazine pouches that will fit the Corps’ new PMAG polymer magazines.

The Marine Corps switched to Magpul’s signature polymer Gen M3 PMag in 2017, but Marines have complained the new magazines don’t fit properly in their issued magazine pouches.

To be considered reliable, a magazine needs to feed as flawlessly as possible under normal and adverse conditions; it must be easy to maintain and clean; and it must resist damage due to rough handling, impacts, and other hazards of extreme use.

The Systems Command is looking to identify supplier sources for magazine pouches that will fit Magpul PMAGs as well as standard aluminum magazines for the M4 carbines and M16 rifles.

The baseplates on PMAGs are slightly larger than standard-issue aluminum magazines, which makes them difficult to fit in the current double and triple-stack magazine pouches. The newer Gen M3 design helps to mitigate fit problems.

In 2017, all four U.S. military services, U.S. SOCOM, and the U.S. Coast Guard either fully adopted or accepted the PMAG as their primary magazine offering.

If the contract is awarded, the order will be for 60,000 units, with a possibility of up to the maximum quantity of 500,000 magazine pouches.

For designs to be considered, they should:

• Allow the magazines to be smoothly drawn from the pouch with one hand.
• Be compatible with the current Pouch Attachment Ladder System for attachment to current load bearing equipment.
• Provide a retention mechanism that allows for the magazine to be retained during normal combat operations.
• Be configurable to allow for a single Marine to carry a minimum of six magazines on their person.
• Be lighter than the current M4/M16 double/single rifle magazine pouch for a double magazine design (T= 0.27lbs) or lighter than half the weight of the current M4/M16 double/single rifle magazine pouch if a single magazine design (T=0.14lbs).