U.S. orders more BAE tactical vests

• Tweet

JESSUP, Pa., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Tactical vests with hard body armor and soft armor ballistics inserts are being produced by BAE Systems for the U.S. military, the company said.

The order, worth $35 million, was given by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency. The vests will be delivered by next October.

"This tactical vest is a necessary and life-saving piece of equipment for the soldier," said Eric Gavelda, director of Warfighter Protection at BAE Systems' Protection Systems business. "The vest helps shield vital organs and protect against a variety of battlefield threats.

"Our ultimate goal is to help our warfighters return home safely to their families."

BAE Systems said the Improved Outer Tactical Vest is the most widely deployed bullet and fragmentation protection soft armor system for the U.S. Department of Defense. BAE Systems has produced more than 800,000 outer tactical body armor vests for U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world since 2007.

The order is part of a four-year contract issued in March. The vests will be produced at the company's facility in Jessup, Pa.