Australia to Produce Ballistic Plates for Combat Body Armour

Australia has developed a new manufacturing technology through which it can produce ballistic plates for combat body armour to protect Australian defence forces (ADF).

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon said the ballistic plate was made from an advanced ceramic material which provides better protection to soldiers.

The new manufacturing technology has been developed through a partnership between the Defence Materials Technology Centre, Australian Defence Apparel (ADA), CSIRO and VCAMM.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said current ballistic plates used by the ADF were imported from the US, but with the new technology the product could now be produced in Australia.

The body armour protects soldiers from ballistic threats like small-arms fire and fragments from improvised explosive devices.