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US Army SPS – TEP Update

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These slides are from the recent Soldier Protection System – Torso and Extremity Protection meeting with industry. It provides some background on the program as well the individual components. This is not the full slide deck. We left out several administrative slides which were not germane to educating our readers about SPS – TEP.

Initially, the Army plans to give two companies contracts to produce TEP.  Its TDP is owned by the government and they will buy about 5,100 units at first.  Eventually, the contract could go to over 36,000 systems.  

It looks like the BOIP includes two Ballistic Combat Shirts for each system although with integrated armor, we are unsure if it is removable or how they will be laundered if it is not.  Then, there’s the whole “shirt with integrated armor during a waterborne operations” issue that will eventually emerge.

Finally, although the images feature a helmet, this compotent of SPS has not yet been announced.

Program Overview

TEP Components

Lightweight Air Warrior System

Further Testing

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Schedule

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2015 at 13:00 and is filed under Armor. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

12 Responses to “US Army SPS – TEP Update”

  1. Eddie says:
    May 18, 2015 at 14:49

    Looks like a step in the right direction, aside from the helmet.

  2. Steven S says:
    May 18, 2015 at 14:52

    Very interesting! Thanks for sharing the slides to us.

  3. ThatBlueFalcon says:
    May 18, 2015 at 15:13

    Is that the MBAV Plate Carrier design?

  4. CAVStrong says:
    May 18, 2015 at 15:32

    Are these pictures of the actual end product or simply visual aids to help describe the program?

    I’m still not sold on the idea.

    • WagenCAV says:
      May 18, 2015 at 16:03

      I was wondering the same thing

    • TM says:
      May 19, 2015 at 02:46

      As I read it, the pictures represent the end product – the government design won versus the competition, whatever that was, now they’re looking for manufacturers for it.

      The scalable design with the potential for non-SOF personnel to be issued a concealable or low-profile vest makes a lot of sense with the current mission set centered around advise/assist – protection against the green-on-blue threat without the tactical turtle appearance.

      • Uniform223 says:
        May 19, 2015 at 03:22

        but that tactical turtle appearance looks so cool hahaha

      • CAVstrong says:
        May 19, 2015 at 11:12

        I’m not sold on the scalable design. There isn’t a Brigade CSM out there that will allow Company Commanders to choose what they need for the mission they’ve been given.

        Plus from what I can see in the pictures the concealable/plate carrier version look just as bulky as an IOTV.

        Don’t want. Give SPCS GEN II with upgraded peripheral armor.

  5. straps says:
    May 18, 2015 at 20:29

    Acronym Fatigue.

    Air SS. Which will promptly be re-christened ASS by the end users.

    And Protective Outer Garment (POG). To be worn by everyone who ISN’T one of those.

  6. Ty says:
    May 19, 2015 at 22:04

    So cover the entire body with kevlar. That will work out well in the summer.