A new analysis from the Pentagon’s operational testing and evaluation arm found that the new Soldier Protection System is not up to par. While the lightweight Generation III Vital Torso Protection (VTP) armor plate inserts achieve a 7-14 percent weight reduction compared to the current plates, three of the plates did not meet ballistic protection requirements. The OT&E report concluded that “the Army should continue the testing of the lighter-weight Generation III VTP designs.”

U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Haley D. Phillips