'better Than A Bullet In The Gut'

Sun Herald

Sunday May 4, 2008

By Frank Walker

AUSTRALIAN troops on the front line in Afghanistan are being rushed new Star Wars-style full body armour after one soldier was shot dead and several others wounded last week.

For the first time, the troops can wear bulletproof material covering the entire body, including groin, buttocks, arms and legs. Their existing armour covers only chest and back.

Made with synthetic fabrics and a ceramic shell, the new armour is designed to stop armour-piercing bullets. Soldiers in Afghanistan will start receiving the armour at the end of this month after the Australian manufacturer lifted production last week, following news of the Aussie casualties.

Lance Corporal Jason Marks was killed in a firefight with Taliban forces. Four others were wounded but survived.

Brian Rush, managing director of the Bendigo manufacturer Australian Defence Apparel, said: "We are doing our best to speed up production."

The company has an $80 million contract to make 14,000 kits.

"We don't want to give secrets away but I can say that this new aramid [protective fabric] compound is the best in the world," Mr Rush said.

"We had to laugh when we finally saw it on a real soldier as it looked like the stormtroopers in Star Wars."

The armour comes in two camouflage covers - one for desert warfare, the other for jungle operations.

"The chest piece weighs about the same as the current kit, but even though the full kit weighs 17 kilograms, it is better than getting a bullet in your gut," Mr Rush said.

In Afghanistan last October, Australian Private Philip Hodgskiss was shot twice in the back by an AK-47 but lived because of his body armour. A week later, Sergeant Matthew Locke died when he was shot while not wearing armour.

The bullet entered from above, through his shoulder, a shot that might not have been lethal if he had been wearing the new armour.

Australian Defence Association spokesman Neil James welcomed the new body armour, but warned it was not the answer in all situations. "You can never have full armour protection as it hinders mobility. You would not wear it climbing and at 17 kilos you could not wear it for long."

© 2008 Sun Herald

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