GAO finds mistakes in Army test of body armor

October 17, 2009|Richard Lardner, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Army made critical mistakes in tests of a new body armor design, according to congressional investigators who recommend an independent review of the trials before the gear is issued.

The Government Accountability Office report says the Army deviated from established testing standards and concludes that several of the designs that passed would have failed had the tests been done properly.

The Army has ordered about 240,000 of the new type of bullet-blocking plate to be used in ballistic vests, but doesn’t plan to rush the armor into combat. The Army said the plates will be stored until needed to meet future demands.

In a lengthy response to the GAO report, Defense Department officials reject the call for an outside look. The officials acknowledge that there were a few problems during testing of the bullet-blocking plates. But these were miscues that don’t shake their confidence in the overall results, they said.

Given the military’s opposition to an external review by ballistics specialists, the GAO says, Congress should decide whether such a step is necessary.

In a letter sent yesterday, Representatives Neil Abercrombie, Democrat of Hawaii, and Roscoe Bartlett, Republican of Maryland, urged Army Secretary John McHugh to follow the recommendations.