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Interceptor system saves lives

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 200541575840
Story by Sgt. Donald Bohanner

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va (Mar. 24, 2005) -- Since December 2003, the Marine Corps has been fielding the Interceptor system to Marines deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom as an effective and highly valued piece of gear in the global war on terrorism.

The Interceptor System, a personal body armor system, is comprised of the Outer Tactical Vest and the Small Arms Protective Inserts. The OTV was designed for use with SAPI plates and replaces the Personnel Armor System, Ground Troop Flak vest, more commonly known as the flak vest.

“The old flak vests were only designed to defeat fragmentation and have no way of holding a SAPI plate or stopping a bullet,” said Maj. Wendell Leimbach, Combat Equipment Infantry Combat Equipment team leader, Marine Corps Systems Command. “The new OTVs are designed to defeat fragmentation and hold the SAPI plates. Together, the Interceptor System provides protection from 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm rounds,” he added.

As of Feb. 15, the Marine Corps issued 184,047 SAPI plates and 181,596 OTVs to deploying units and plans to purchase an additional 8,500 OTVs and 36,000 plates by the end of October.

“Since the second rotation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marine Corps has ensured that every Marine and Sailor receive an Interceptor System prior to going to theater,” said Leimbach.
But the success of the Interceptor System has not come about without some challenges along the way.

“During the last rotation of I Marine Expeditionary Force in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marine Corps was still producing as many OTVs and SAPI plates as we could possibly get our hands on,” explained Leimbach. “We had a mandate that every Marine would receive a Interceptor System prior to going into theater, and the Marine Corps was hell bent to make that happen.

During the testing and purchasing process, the Marine Corps started to receive test data on some of the OTVs that were lower than what was specified in the requirement for the purchase description. This was clearly a concern that the Marine Corps had to address.

“We looked at the data to see how far off they were from the acceptable levels of ballistic performance,” said Leimbach. “It was easy to identify the fact that, despite the vest not being at full ballistic capability as outlined in the specification, they were still dramatically better than the alternative.”

The alternative was to send Marines into theater wearing an old flak system.

“It was never a doubt that all of the vests were clearly better than the PASGT system,” said Leimbach.

The OTVs that received lower ballistic performance ratings were still stopping 9 mm rounds during testing.

“The way we test the vests is by placing a clay block behind the OTV,” explained Leimbach. “We judge the effectiveness of the vest by the size of the impression that is left in the clay. Some of the impressions left were larger than what was specified in the purchase description.”

Despite problems found in some of the testing with the OTV, it was clear that the Interceptor System was significantly better than the PASGT Flak vest, he said.

“The PASGT flak could not hold a SAPI plate and can not stop a round, so the choice was clear to sign the waivers for specific vests that showed lower-than-optimal performance on ballistics,” explained Leimbach.

During the Vietnam War, 70 percent of casualties with penetrating chest wounds and 33 percent of casualties with penetrating abdominal wounds died. Throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom only 5 percent of casualties resulted from torso wounds. Reducing the number of penetrations in this region has a significant effect on reducing the total fatality rates. The large reduction in fatalities from torso injuries can be directly attributed to the improved protection provided by the combination of the OTV and SAPI inserts being worn by Marines on the battlefield today as well as the amazing medical care that is available so close to the combat zones, said Leimbach.

“It’s impossible to get an accurate number of how many Marines’ lives have been saved by the Interceptor system. I’ve heard many stories of Marines on patrol in Iraq and the SAPI plate stopped a bullet or Improvised Explosive Device that would have otherwise killed him, but the Marine just replaces the plates and keeps on going,” said Leimbach. “The most important thing to note is the Interceptor system is saving hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.”

The Marine Corps is currently developing the next phase of the Interceptor system, which will include the most up-to-date design and manufacturing capabilities, and will also extend protection to the rest of the body.

“Right now the Marine Corps is undergoing a program to look at the Interceptor System and identify what areas of the body may need additional protection,” Leimbach said. “We are sensitive to the weight issues that are out there and don’t want to overburden the Marine, but what we are trying to do is identify a way to provide the Marine an option to increase or decrease the level of ballistic protection they’re wearing, depending on the threat and mission.”

So far, the Marines have started to test upper arm and upper leg protection that fastens to the OTV. More than 2,000 arm and leg protectors have been fielded in Iraq and are awaiting results from the Marines testing them. The test data from these protectors will be used to design the next-generation arm and leg protectors.

“Giving the Marine a scalable option is where we are looking to go in the future,” said Leimbach. “And we are doing that by evaluating the casualty data we’re getting back.
“Only 5 percent of all casualties are caused by injuries to the torso region. So that means we’re doing a good job there. Now where else should we focus our energy?”

The individual Marine is the most important asset that the Marine Corps has, and the Interceptor system is ensuring the Corps gets as many Marines home alive as possible.