The military will distribute lighter, stronger bullet-proof vests to front-line troops starting next year to better guard them against the latest weapons, the defense ministry said Thursday.
A task force team under the ministry has been developing a multi-functional flak vest to make it lighter and more durable, using the latest textile and ceramic technology, the ministry said. Some layers of the present vests were penetrated by side arms used by North Korea, it said.
The new gear is designed to guard against major North Korean arms, including the AK-74, and is easy to put on and take off depending on operations. It can add bullet-proof materials on the front and back as well as the shoulders to protect a wider portion of the body.
"The ministry will gradually distribute the bullet-proof vests for combat units on the front-line from the first half of next year," the ministry said in a release ahead of a forum on the issue. "A research and development program of multi-functional bullet-proof jackets has been underway to make it lighter and durable."
The bullet-resistant jacket is part of the soldier's body armor and equipment that have been under development to improve function, along with bullet-proof helmets, battle jackets and military backpacks to meet the growing needs of soldiers.
About 120 officials from the military, procurement agency and the finance ministry as well as soldiers' parents and defense firm officials attended the forum held at the defense ministry to discuss ways to improve military equipment and soldiers' body armor. (Yonhap)