Rhino
04-17-2006, 02:33 PM
Testing Dispute Stalls Army Purchase of Body Armor
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A dispute over testing is stalling the Army's plans to move ahead with buying a new high-tech body armor now off-limits to soldiers.
The stalemate is the latest development in a complex disagreement over the quality of the protective gear, known as Dragon Skin, that is made by Pinnacle Armor of Fresno, Calif. The fight over body armor has spread beyond the Pentagon and reverberated throughout the country as families try to buy the best protection possible for loved ones serving overseas.
Murray Neal, Pinnacle's chief executive officer, said Friday he will not send the Army 30 vests to test next month, as planned, unless the Army agrees to his testing requirements.
Neal said he is worried the vests may be tampered with before the ballistic tests are conducted -- potentially giving the Army an excuse not to buy from Pinnacle Armor.
"I'm not going to leave it to chance that they could mess with the body armor prior to it being tested and that could cause premature failure," Neal said.
The Army says it has a contract for 30 vests and expects delivery.
"The expectations for the test are spelled out in the specification that was part of the contract that (Pinnacle Armor) signed," Army spokeswoman Maj. Desiree Wineland said. "The Army does not intend to make any changes to the contract that was signed."........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191923,00.html
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A dispute over testing is stalling the Army's plans to move ahead with buying a new high-tech body armor now off-limits to soldiers.
The stalemate is the latest development in a complex disagreement over the quality of the protective gear, known as Dragon Skin, that is made by Pinnacle Armor of Fresno, Calif. The fight over body armor has spread beyond the Pentagon and reverberated throughout the country as families try to buy the best protection possible for loved ones serving overseas.
Murray Neal, Pinnacle's chief executive officer, said Friday he will not send the Army 30 vests to test next month, as planned, unless the Army agrees to his testing requirements.
Neal said he is worried the vests may be tampered with before the ballistic tests are conducted -- potentially giving the Army an excuse not to buy from Pinnacle Armor.
"I'm not going to leave it to chance that they could mess with the body armor prior to it being tested and that could cause premature failure," Neal said.
The Army says it has a contract for 30 vests and expects delivery.
"The expectations for the test are spelled out in the specification that was part of the contract that (Pinnacle Armor) signed," Army spokeswoman Maj. Desiree Wineland said. "The Army does not intend to make any changes to the contract that was signed."........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191923,00.html