Ballistic protection gear fit for Filipino physique under development
At the 8th National Research and Development Conference at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, the Department of Science and Technology—Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD)—displayed the AeroComp Project, which was described as 'the future of the Philippines' ballistic defense industry.'
The project aims to produce lightweight fiber-reinforced ballistic protection products, including helmets, Level IIIA to Level III tactical plates with a weight of 550 grams to 2,100 grams, as well as tactical vests weighing less than 1,000 grams that are custom-fit for Filipino soldiers.
Denisse Jonel Pavia, a member of the research team, said that the project's goal is to address the problem of heavy plates and bulky vests that obstruct military activities.
'Our plates are made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. It's a fabric, and then it's combined with pineapple fabric. Locally sourced yung pineapple, yung polyethylene ay outsourced. Tapos, yung current na tactical vest namin, we have designed it to fit the Filipino physique since yung current market yung feature nila mostly for mga American-based [physique]. It is bulkier,' Pavia said.
(Our plates are made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. It's a fabric, and then it's combined with pineapple fabric. The pineapple fabric is locally sourced, and then the polyethylene is outsourced. The tactical vest was designed to fit the Filipino physique since the current market features mostly American-based [physique]. It is bulkier.)
The gear has already undergone field tests with the Philippine Navy and the Air Force and failure mode analysis—both of which yielded positive results.
The project aims to supply the equipment to the Philippine military, with the intention of subsequently introducing them for commercial purposes.
Each vest is expected to cost between P35,000 and P50,000, and the helmet is projected to cost between P12,000 and P20,000.
AeroComp is targeted to be completed by May 2026. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
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