Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is a vest protecting the upper torso from ballistic threats. It can be configured to defeat the predicted mission threat at minimum weight. IBA consists of:

an outer tactical vest (OTV)

which includes the base vest, collar assembly, and throat and groin protectors;

deltoid and axillary protectors (DAPS)

for the upper arm and underarm that attach to the OTV and provide protection in the shoulder area;

small arms protective inserts (SAPIs)

which are interchangeable contoured plates inserted into front and back pockets on the OTV, and

enhanced side ballistic inserts (ESBI, Army) or Side SAPI (Marines)

a pair of carrier assemblies and ballistic inserts. The carrier assemblies attach to the sides of the OTV.

Ballistic Protection Levels

• OTV provides fragmentation protection from conventional fragmenting munitions, multi-hit handgun bullet protection for 9mm, 124 gr., Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Remington projectile.
• OTV and SAPI together provide multi-hit small arms bullet protection from:
  • NATO 7.62 x 51 mm M-80 Ball.
  • Soviet 7.62 mm x 54 R Ball Type LPS
  • U.S. 5.56 mm M855 Ball.
• OTV and ISAPI together provide multi-hit small arms bullet protection from
  • NATO 7.62 x 51 mm M-80 Ball.
  • Soviet 7.62 mm x 54 R Ball Type LPS
  • U.S. 5.56 mm M855 Ball.
  • 7.62 x 39 mm API (Russian BZ and Chinese Type 56)
• OTV and ESAPI together provide multi-hit small arms bullet protection from
  • NATO 7.62 x 51 mm M-80 Ball.
  • Soviet 7.62 mm x 54 R Ball Type LPS
  • U.S. 5.56 mm M855 Ball.
  • 7.62mm x 63 APM 2

History

• In 1996, The Operational Requirements Document for body armor was established and was updated in 1998 and 1999.
• In 1999, the Army developed the "Logistics Supportability Strategy for Interceptor Body Armor," (Logistics Strategy), which included a requirement for 36,000 sets of IBA for dismounted soldiers.
• In early 2000, the Army began fielding the IBA.
• After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Army modified the acquisition objective in the Acquisition Strategy to ensure that all mountedand dismounted soldiers had IBA. The amount of IBA to be fielded increased from the initial 36,000 to 840,000.
• In Aug 2004, Deltoid Axillary Protectors (the upper arm and underarm protection) were included in the IBA.
• In Jan 2005, the Army transitioned from SAPI to ESAPI to provide protection against an additional ballistic threat and respond to an Operational Needs Statement for side armor protection.
• In Jan 2006, ESBI (the side armor protection) were included in the IBA.
• In Apr 2007, the Army began fielding its new vest, the IOTV, to replace the OTV and updated the IBA acquisition plan to increase the acquisition objective for IBA to 996,000.

Specifications

• OTV: CO/PD 00-02
• IOTV: FQ/PD 07-05
• DAPS: CO/PD 07-10
• ESBI: CO/PD 06-20
• ESBI Carrier: CO/PD 06-24
• SAPI: CO/PD 00-03
• ESAPI: CO/PD 04-19
• ISAPI: CO/PD 05-02
• XSAPI: FQ/PD 07-03

References

• IBA factsheet @PEO Soldier [Jan 2006][May 2009][Oct 2010]
• http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil/2012/03/08/equipment-piece-of-the-week-interceptor-body-armor-iba/
• http://www.army.mil/aps/09/information_papers/interceptor_body_armor.html
• APBI PPE/IBA [2008] [2009] [2010] [2011]
• References on Body Armor