U.S. orders body armor plates from 3M

MINNEAPOLIS, May 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency has ordered 177,000 body armor plates from Ceradyne Inc., a subsidiary of 3M.

The lightweight enhanced small arms protective inserts, or ESAPI, are inserted into outer, modular tactical vests to provide torso protection against small-arms fire.

The order is worth $92.7 million. Deliveries are expected to begin this year.

"3M is pleased to win this contract, and we are honored to provide body armor for the U.S. military," said Cheryl Ingstad, business manager, Advanced Ceramics Platform -- Defense, 3M. "We continue to make it our mission to leverage innovation in advanced materials science and the manufacturing process to deliver highly engineered body armor that meets the exacting quality standards of the U.S. Department of Defense."

Ceradyne has fielded more than two million body-armor inserts and 100,000 enhanced combat helmets to the U.S. Armed Forces.