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Army agrees to test Dragon Skin body armor

The Army will test Dragon Skin vests – along with products from any other bidder – if the maker of the controversial flexible body armor submits its product to a request for proposal that’s open until late July, officials said Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

During an almost five-hour hearing in front of the House Armed Services Committee, Lt. Gen. Ross Thompson, military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, and representatives from each of the other services testified about the merits of the Interceptor body armor worn by all service members.

Also testifying Wednesday were Murray Neal, chief executive officer of Pinnacle Armor Inc., the maker of Dragon Skin, and Philip Coyle, a senior adviser at the Center for Defense Information who served as a witness for a test commissioned by NBC that the news agency said shows Dragon Skin is superior to the Interceptor.

The NBC report, which aired May 20, prompted lawmakers to call Wednesday’s hearing.

“Recent media reports have suggested that we may not be providing the best body armor available,” Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the committee, said in his opening statement. “We’re here today to gain a better understanding of the facts and to reassure our constituents that our goal remains ensuring that their sons and daughters are being provided the best body armor available.”

Neal, who was on the first panel of the day, was grilled by lawmakers for three hours.

“The bottom line for me ... is Dragon Skin is the best body armor in the world,” he testified.

Neal insisted during and after the hearing that all he wants is a fair, unbiased test to show what his product can do.

“Despite all the high emotions, I think the House Armed Services Committee will do the right thing and do a third-party validation,” he said. “That’s all we’re looking for. As I always say, the proof is in the pudding. At the end of the day the third-party will prove what’s going on.”

The Army’s RFP is for “any and all offers” from manufacturers who believe they can improve on the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts now worn by soldiers, Thompson said.

“If Pinnacle wants to be evaluated they have to respond to the RFP,” he said. “Otherwise it won’t be fair to the other [competitors] if we test Pinnacle even though they don’t respond to the RFP.”

Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, who oversees all body armor development for the Army, said the Interceptor has proven itself in tests and in combat.

But he added the Army is always looking for ways to improve body armor.

“We’re very interested in flexible body armor and Pinnacle is one of the leading [companies] but it’s not ready yet,” he said.

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Army responds to report on Dragon Skin