TBAS

Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS)

http://www.scribd.com/solsys/d/91651933-Australia-Soldier-Combat-Ensemble-SCE-%E2%80%93-Load-Carriage-Elements

The Tiered Body Armour System – a scalable app roach to personal protection

A new range of combat body armour is being developed by Soldier Modernisation Systems Program Office (SMSPO) to meet Army’s requirement for scalable personal protection to adapt to the changing nature of conflict.

Current operations have the majority of Australian soldiers issued with the Modular Combat Body Armour System (MCBAS). MCBAS was designed for use to meet Army’s requirements in Iraq and offers a very high level of personal protection. Military operations since then have evolved, requiring soldiers to use a lighter system that allows for a greater degree of mobility and manoeuvrability.

As a short term solution, a Military offthe shelf body armour variant from Eagle Industries has been issued to select Units. However, the long term management of multiple types of body armour is unsustainable.

At the request of Army, SMSPO has embarked on the development of theTiered Body Armour System (TBAS). TBAS will create a single fleet of multiple variants of body armour that will allow commanders to specifically tailor body armour to each mission.

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Ken Gillespie commented, ‘In the TBAS equipment set that we are looking at, we are providing levels of weight and armour so that an operational commander on the ground can best balance his force protection requirements with the task that
he has been allocated.’

The first version of TBAS was trialled in late 2009 by Special Forces Units and 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR). Design improvement recommendations were brought together by the Australian Defence Test and Evaluation Office and provided to SMSPO to inform the development of the second version. The trial of version two is underway with Special Forces Units and all major Units of 1st Brigade and is due to conclude in July 2010. At the conclusion of these trials, the third version of TBAS will then be manufactured for Operational Test and Evaluation and then issued to soldiers deploying on operations.

It is expected that Land 125 Phase 3B, Soldier Enhancement – Survivability, will then be utilised to further develop Defence’s body armour capability and introduce the system into service.

CA TBAS

Today the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, observed Afghan bound troops firing weapons while wearing the newly issued Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS). The system will provide enhanced protection for personnel deploying to Afghanistan as part of Mentoring Task Force Three (MTF-3).

The new issue of body armour they will carry is designed to integrate with other combat equipment and provide enhanced freedom of movement. A key advantage provided by the new TBAS is the versatility of being able to insert different types of ballistic plates into the system. This enables TBAS to be worn at a lighter weight that current systems while maintaining the appropriate level of protection for the environment in which personnel are operating.

Lieutenant General Gillespie said that a rapid & considered response to equip the troops to suit the current operating environment is indicative of a process that gives weight to the opinion of troops operating on the ground.

“Mobility on foot is a high priority now and based on input from the troops this system was designed to suit this type of operation.”

During today’s range shoot the troops wore TBAS body armour as they engaged targets with their weapons from an assortment of firing positions. Private Tim Carpenter of 2 RAR (the unit on which MTF-3 is based) said the experience demonstrated to him the suitability of TBAS to a live fire situation. “It’s comfortable in all firing positions and great for quick magazine changes.”

Private Warwick Lucas sees three distinct benefits.

‘There’s a lot less restriction in the shoulders – it allows for target acquisition a lot quicker from all positions.”
“We can move faster and stay lower - not being weighed down is definitely safer for us.”
“Weight distribution is really even -its well balanced – even with a full magazine load.”

While they’ve only had the TBAS a few days the soldiers on the range have given the system an early thumbs up.

DTG

Media Alert drafted by

MAJ A. Green

PAO 3 Bde

011600APR11

TBAS Final Prototype Plate Carrier & Pouches

A Final Prototype of TBAS tier 2 plate carrier and pouches in 2010 after the trial was done. And color on condura fabric was different than the issued one. It was used on display and demo only i believe. The plate carrier design doesn't have big different than the issued one , but some pouches does , especially the Tier 0 Belt pad, for me , i prefer this one more than the Issued one.

TBAS Tier 1 Trial Version Plate Carrier

TBAS Tier 2 V2 Trial Version Body Armour

TBAS Tier 0 Waist Belt Pad with Harness

TBAS Tier 2 V3 Multicam Version Plate Carrier

TBAS Tier 3 V3 Multicam Version Body Armour

2011 TBAS in Multicam

Marking on the TBAS Multicam pouches

Gas Mask / Dump Pouch

Accessories Micro Pouch

Mine Probe / Hydration Tube holder

Minimi Pouch

I love this pouch very much ! Classical Australian fastener match with Multicam ! this is awesome !! No fancy, super practical, keep it simple, amazing stuff with NSN !

Medium Utility Pouch

Another practical pouch, size quite larger than medium, prefect size on side panel.

MBITR

TBAS Medical Pouch (DPCU)

Latest Issued TBAS pouch made into DPCU in 2012. Made with Cordura fabric same with Land125 pouches.

F88/M4 Triple Shingle Pouch

F88 Double / Triple Mag Pouch & M4 Mag Pouch

Another Brilliant design, Cover can be tears off by Velcro and attache the elastic band, transform to be quick mag pouch.

Minimi Ammo Pouch

What are brilliant design for the Minimi ammo pouch ! It can be removed the ammo link dust cover and it will become magazine pouch and able to hold 6 mags. Contractor is Platatac.