Dragon Skin is a body armor designed and manufactured by the American company Pinnacle Armor. It is mass-produced in Fresno , California .
The bulletproof vest is distinguished by the scaly design of the protective elements fastened together in such a way that provides both a high protection area and comfortable wearing. "Scales" are ceramic plate discs with a diameter of 50 mm and a thickness of 6.4 mm made of silicon carbide [1] A number of tests have shown that the Dragon Skin can successfully withstand multiple hits of bullets fired at close range from HK MP5 , M16 and even AK . "Dragon Skin" withstands up to 40 hits from the above types of weapons and undermining a hand grenade. [2] [3]
Body armor is available in the following versions: SOV-2000 (III level of protection) and SOV-3000 (IV level of protection). SOV-2000 costs from $ 5000 per unit as of 2011 .
Content
- 1 Design
- 1.1 Benefits
- 1.2 Disadvantages
- 1.3 Field Tests
- 2 notes
- 3 References
Design
The bulletproof vest consists of a cover and a protective bag placed in it. It should be noted that in design and layout the body armor is very similar to the Soviet body armor ZhZL-74 (lightweight protective vest), consisting of aluminum plate disks similar in shape.
Benefits
- High bulletproof area
- Easy to carry - the protective bag has relative flexibility
- High survivability of bulletproof protection - in the event that the adhesive composition on which the disks are attached (see drawbacks) can keep the disks in place.
- Light weight body armor - from 6 to 8 kg.
Weaknesses
- A high rate of ZLKT (closed local contusion injury ), which can lead to injuries and injuries by the user, even if the striking element does not penetrate the protective composition of the body armor.
- The adhesive fastening of the Dragon Skins ceramic disks cannot withstand prolonged use at high temperatures, and after some time of use in a hot climate, when a bullet enters the vest (or otherwise), it is possible to separate the ceramic disks from the substrate, which leads to a critical decrease in the protective properties of body armor .
Field Tests
Field Skins of Dragon Skins Field Test: [4] The official tests conducted by the US Army failed, which resulted in a ban on its use by US troops.
Nevertheless, body armor is used: PMCs operating in Afghanistan, some special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, nine senior officers and their bodyguards, the Secret Service. The CIA also uses body armor in its operations.
Notes
- ↑ Crane, David Dragon Skin Armor Passes More Tests: Dr. Gary Roberts and 'Test Lab' Video (link unavailable) (October 9, 2006). Archived October 24, 2006.
- ↑ DOJ DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES FINDINGS ON DRAGON SKIN BODY ARMOR . Date of treatment August 7, 2007. Archived October 14, 2007.
- ↑ Defense Review Dragon Skin Body Armor (SOV-2000) Passes all NIJ Level III Tests at USTL unopened (link not available) . Date of treatment September 28, 2006. Archived October 24, 2006.
- ↑ Official Field Test Results for Bulletproof (Link not available) . Date of treatment October 8, 2011. Archived October 1, 2011.