Post by 30sqnatc on Sept 17, 2009 19:24:29 GMT 12
The original article and comments posted so far. I just love the guy who thinks it is a waste of money - 'Watch and shoot - targets up'. ;D 
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2872036/Kiwi-troops-get-hi-tech-armour
By HANK SCHOUTEN - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 17/09/2009SharePrint Text Size 7 comments THE KIT: Major Ben Pitt models the full combat kit to be worn by the next Kiwi contingent going to Afghanistan in October.Relevant offers
The next deployment of Kiwi troops to Afghanistan will be equipped with state-of-the art body armour, helmets, goggles, gloves and GPS navigation aids.
The new gear, worth $12 million and weighing more than 50 kilograms per soldier, was selected after a two-year search to find the best battle kit available anywhere in the world. It was sourced from several international suppliers.
"This is us putting equipment on our soldiers that's world-class and it's going to give them a good chance of surviving if something goes wrong," army capability chief Colonel Phil Collett said yesterday.
"It's really important that we demonstrate to our soldiers and the public that we're putting every effort into ensuring they're as well-equipped and as safe as possible."
Colonel Collett said the army asked suppliers to offer their best battlefield kit. The equipment was put to the test this year at Waiouru and orders were then placed to fit out 1500 troops over the next five years.
The first to wear the new kit almost every day for six months will be 140 soldiers set to fly out for Afghanistan next month. It is also being offered to Afghan-bound SAS troops.
Lieutenant Colonel James Kaio said field trials found problems with some of the kit on offer, which was then rejected. Some gloves were not tough enough, dye on some jackets was staining soldiers' skin, some of the body armour and packs did not fit well together and some glasses fogged up.
On the positive side, they found that the flak jackets floated for 30 to 40 seconds, long enough for a soldier to rip one off before it pulled the soldier under.
Where the old jackets were "one size fits all", the new ones could be adjusted to suit their needs. Even without the heavy plates, the jackets are tough enough to stop a low-calibre bullet or blast fragments. Chest, back, side and groin plates were able to stop multiple shots.
The new helmet is lighter and provides better protection. The soldiers are also getting new goggles and sunglasses designed to stop shrapnel, as well as GPS units, torches and backpacks.
Colonel Collett said the heavy gear would test the toughest squaddies, but was as light as technology would allow. "It's better to be uncomfortable than potentially dead."
The soldiers due to fly out next month will be the 15th rotation of Kiwi troops to the provincial reconstruction team in Bamyan province since 2003.
Dominion Post HomepageSponsored links
Post a comment Expand All Newest First
Oldest First anony #7 01:08 pm Sep 17 2009
state of the art gloves... oh dear
Peter #6 12:57 pm Sep 17 2009
No, this is not a waste of money Harding. Min Def and NZDF have wasted plenty of money on expensive undeployable white elephants (eg LAVs) in the past (see defence.allmedia.co.nz ) but this is not one of them. At $NZ8k per kit (excl weapon and radio I assume) this is excellent value and long overdue. I do hope the kit has been tested for drowning risk (some armour doubles as a flotation aid). There might not be much water in Afghanistan but islands and jungles are different. I also hope that the camoflauge pattern depicted isn't one we adopt. If you are going to lump 55kg around agility is reduced and not being seen is so much more important. The digital (eg Marpat or Cadpat) patterns would be much safer. But on the whole however its nice to see some money spent on the important people for a change.
Jon #5 11:47 am Sep 17 2009
@moritz #4 No, 55kg is about right. 55lb is only about 25kg, and that's barely the weight of the armour, helmet, and rifle alone. Add water, radio, misc elctronic gadgets, batteries, ammo, grenades, clothing, food, etc, and 55kg is probably a bit on the low side.
moritz wassmann #4 10:54 am Sep 17 2009
I believe 50kg is a missprint-50lb is more likely to be true! In my experience(active service chad/cental africa) 37kg was the max(full kit weapon/ammo).For what it's worth.M
TJ #3 09:28 am Sep 17 2009
Harding, I'm sure that the soldiers who wear the gear while being shot at, etc do not think that this is an absolute waste of money.
TJ #2 08:59 am Sep 17 2009
Just imagine having to haul 50 kgs in the hot sun. These guys must be fit.
Harding #1 08:39 am Sep 17 2009
What an absolutle waste of MONEY!!
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2872036/Kiwi-troops-get-hi-tech-armour
By HANK SCHOUTEN - The Dominion Post Last updated 05:00 17/09/2009SharePrint Text Size 7 comments THE KIT: Major Ben Pitt models the full combat kit to be worn by the next Kiwi contingent going to Afghanistan in October.Relevant offers
The next deployment of Kiwi troops to Afghanistan will be equipped with state-of-the art body armour, helmets, goggles, gloves and GPS navigation aids.
The new gear, worth $12 million and weighing more than 50 kilograms per soldier, was selected after a two-year search to find the best battle kit available anywhere in the world. It was sourced from several international suppliers.
"This is us putting equipment on our soldiers that's world-class and it's going to give them a good chance of surviving if something goes wrong," army capability chief Colonel Phil Collett said yesterday.
"It's really important that we demonstrate to our soldiers and the public that we're putting every effort into ensuring they're as well-equipped and as safe as possible."
Colonel Collett said the army asked suppliers to offer their best battlefield kit. The equipment was put to the test this year at Waiouru and orders were then placed to fit out 1500 troops over the next five years.
The first to wear the new kit almost every day for six months will be 140 soldiers set to fly out for Afghanistan next month. It is also being offered to Afghan-bound SAS troops.
Lieutenant Colonel James Kaio said field trials found problems with some of the kit on offer, which was then rejected. Some gloves were not tough enough, dye on some jackets was staining soldiers' skin, some of the body armour and packs did not fit well together and some glasses fogged up.
On the positive side, they found that the flak jackets floated for 30 to 40 seconds, long enough for a soldier to rip one off before it pulled the soldier under.
Where the old jackets were "one size fits all", the new ones could be adjusted to suit their needs. Even without the heavy plates, the jackets are tough enough to stop a low-calibre bullet or blast fragments. Chest, back, side and groin plates were able to stop multiple shots.
The new helmet is lighter and provides better protection. The soldiers are also getting new goggles and sunglasses designed to stop shrapnel, as well as GPS units, torches and backpacks.
Colonel Collett said the heavy gear would test the toughest squaddies, but was as light as technology would allow. "It's better to be uncomfortable than potentially dead."
The soldiers due to fly out next month will be the 15th rotation of Kiwi troops to the provincial reconstruction team in Bamyan province since 2003.
Dominion Post HomepageSponsored links
Post a comment Expand All Newest First
Oldest First anony #7 01:08 pm Sep 17 2009
state of the art gloves... oh dear
Peter #6 12:57 pm Sep 17 2009
No, this is not a waste of money Harding. Min Def and NZDF have wasted plenty of money on expensive undeployable white elephants (eg LAVs) in the past (see defence.allmedia.co.nz ) but this is not one of them. At $NZ8k per kit (excl weapon and radio I assume) this is excellent value and long overdue. I do hope the kit has been tested for drowning risk (some armour doubles as a flotation aid). There might not be much water in Afghanistan but islands and jungles are different. I also hope that the camoflauge pattern depicted isn't one we adopt. If you are going to lump 55kg around agility is reduced and not being seen is so much more important. The digital (eg Marpat or Cadpat) patterns would be much safer. But on the whole however its nice to see some money spent on the important people for a change.
Jon #5 11:47 am Sep 17 2009
@moritz #4 No, 55kg is about right. 55lb is only about 25kg, and that's barely the weight of the armour, helmet, and rifle alone. Add water, radio, misc elctronic gadgets, batteries, ammo, grenades, clothing, food, etc, and 55kg is probably a bit on the low side.
moritz wassmann #4 10:54 am Sep 17 2009
I believe 50kg is a missprint-50lb is more likely to be true! In my experience(active service chad/cental africa) 37kg was the max(full kit weapon/ammo).For what it's worth.M
TJ #3 09:28 am Sep 17 2009
Harding, I'm sure that the soldiers who wear the gear while being shot at, etc do not think that this is an absolute waste of money.
TJ #2 08:59 am Sep 17 2009
Just imagine having to haul 50 kgs in the hot sun. These guys must be fit.
Harding #1 08:39 am Sep 17 2009
What an absolutle waste of MONEY!!
