Body Armors: The Pivotal First Line of Defense for Military Operations

Body armors: The most pivotal first line of defense for military operations
Ever since Russia announced the invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, the number of fatalities has only been increasing, be it the civilians or soldiers engaged in the war. To this end, the demand for body armor is skyrocketing, giving companies an opportunity to keep the supply in proportion. (Courtesy of YouTube)

A recent study by Global Market Insights Inc. predicts that the body armor market size is projected to exceed $2.5 billion by 2027 on the back of increasing product development trends in the industry.

At the first glance, law enforcement or the military seem like rewarding and respectful professional sectors, if only the viewpoint of the masses is considered.

The truth, however, is that the fields are remnant of life-threatening challenges and gory situations, for most parts.

As per preliminary data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 458 states, federal, local, and tribal law enforcement officers in the United States succumbed to Line-of-Duty deaths in 2021.

Most of these fatalities are a result of war, protests, and open arm firing. Firearms-related deaths alone represented a 38% surge in 2020.

These statistics clearly depict the consistent and imminent need for protective equipment, such as body armor, to avert the possibility of death or trauma.

Why are body armors among the more significant protective equipment?

Body armors are protective shields and are one of the pivotal safety equipment for law enforcement professionals and officers.

Currently, body armors are seen making it to the headlines amid the trending dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

Ever since Russia announced the invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, the number of fatalities has only been increasing, be it the civilians or soldiers engaged in the war.

To this end, the demand for body armor is skyrocketing, giving companies an opportunity to keep the supply in proportion.

(Relief groups are buying armor for resistance.  Courtesy of KGUN9 and YouTube. Posted on Mar 10, 2022.)

An exemplary instance for the same is Americans’ donation of body armor to the Ukraine military. People across the United States are collecting sets of body armor, ammunition, and guns in response to the latter’s pleas for military aid.

In yet another instance, the Vermont State Police announced gathering more than 100 vests donated by the members of the public and law enforcement agencies to support soldiers during Russo-Ukraine war.

(Vermont State Police and law enforcement agencies across the state donate more than 1,000 gently used Level 3 and above body armor vests to aid Ukraine. Courtesy of MyNBC5-WPTZ and YouTube. Posted on Mar 10, 2022.)

Keeping in mind the safety of military personnel, protection equipment manufacturing companies have been working on improvements in body armor design and production.

The efforts to bring about innovative products to the mainstream will have a profound impact on the body armor industry forecast.

  1. Next-generation body armors

While body armors are sure-shot protection against bullet wounds and blunt forces, they require constant up-gradation to meet the current safety standards and protocols suggested by law enforcement agencies and governments.

Body armor used currently are highly safe and equipped with proper protection. However, the need for next-generation and advanced body armors is being largely felt, given the volatility and political climate in some parts across the globe and the consistent requirement for innovative, high-intensity war weapons and arms.

Rostec, a Russian defense producer, announced in 2021 that it was gearing up for the launch of the next-generation body armor in 2035. Officials state that the new suit will offer far greater protection than the existing body armors while posing the ability to restrict 0.50 caliber rounds.

(Russia has begun first phase development of its next-generation battle armor for field soldiers. While still in the works, the gear is expected to be the world’s lightest bullet-proof armor, resistant even to rounds capable of damaging even light armored vehicles, according to state-run outlet Russia Beyond. The armor will be made out of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, and will reportedly also be able to absorb the shock of incoming fire, which can kill a soldier even if the armor is not penetrated. Additionally, the Ratnik-2 is covered with infrared-blocking materials from head to toe so soldiers can avoid detection by various infrared equipment. Courtesy of Defense Watch and YouTube. Posted on Feb 2, 2021.)

  1. Development of advanced materials for building high-performance armors

The demand for lightweight materials is surging in almost every industry – indeed, even the uniforms for defense and military personnel require lightweight material. Major body armor manufacturers, material suppliers, and defense agencies are branding new body armor components that include these improvements.

To illustrate, the Defense Research and Development Organization publicized its plans of developing a lightweight bullet-proof jacket with the support of new technology. Reports have it that the jacket, which weighs approximately 9 kilos, meets the qualitative needs of the Indian Army.

Speaking of the novel materials being researched today, a recent experiment by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), revealed that nanotech-built armors could eventually replace Kevlar and steel for soldier protection.

These technological advancements are expected to drive the demand for body armor in both law enforcement and the military, as end-users seek to replace conventional components with new solutions that provide better protection and are lightweight.

(VSP donate more than 1,000 gently used Level 3 and above body armor vests to aid Ukraine.

Is sustainability the new trend in body armor market?

As sustainability is becoming an intrinsic area of emphasis across the key industries, government agencies are seeking to implement environmental policies with stringent regulations around carbon emissions, recycling, and waste prevention.

The personal protection industry, inclusive of law enforcement, defense, and military, is being significantly impacted by such regulations, enabling body armor manufacturers to analyze the environmental impact of raw materials.

This has paved way for new and sustainable innovations.

DSM lately launched a biobased Dyneema fiber; according to sources, a soft armor vest made with the fiber has carbon footprint that is nearly 50 to 80% lower than counter products.

(When it matters, you can’t compromise. In this day and age, you need a material that is sustainable yet offers the highest level of protection and performance. Courtesy of Dyneema and YouTube.)

In recent years, body armors have been largely used as the primary protection for front-line respondents of war, military personnel, police, and others. With ongoing advancements in the space and sustainability being the buzzword, the world is likely to witness a commendable growth in body armor market share in the coming years.

About the Author:

Vinisha Joshi

A qualified Engineering graduate, Vinisha Joshi takes pride in playing with words. Presently, she pens down insightful articles on business, core industry, technology, and the like.

Creativity comes naturally to her, and Vinisha makes sure to effectively combine the same with her technical expertise in the articles she writes.

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  • Best Personal/ Protective Equipment Product

Select Engineering Services Automatic Injury Detection (AID) System includes thin lightweight, flexible and maintenance free, mylar panels inserted into the officers body armor, (both front and back) for complete concealment and no modifications required to the body armor.
The Automatic Injury Detection (AID) System includes thin lightweight, flexible, and maintenance-free, mylar panels sensor panels that detect when the wearer has been attacked and automatically sends a notification and request for assistance to the appropriate authorities.
  • When an AID flexible mylar sensor panels (front & back, comfortably inserted into the wearer’s bulletproof vest) is pierced by either a bullet, knife or shrapnel from an IED, the communications module will sense the break in the circuit and automatically sends an emergency alert with GPS location to phone, radio or communication system.

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PET improves personal safety in a variety of scenarios when in a panic, under heavy duress, and in a medical emergency. (Courtesy of Select Engineering Services, LLC.)
PET improves personal safety in a variety of scenarios when in a panic, under heavy duress, and in a medical emergency. (Courtesy of Select Engineering Services, LLC.)
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