New Defence Shield for US Armed Forces

Defenshield has been awarded contracts by three different branches of the United States military for additional Mobile Defensive Fighting Positions (MDFP) and Barrier Caps.

The equipment is valued at more than $1 million and will be deployed at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, to protect U.S. military personnel fighting the war on terror. Deliveries will begin in late August.

Mobile Defensive Fighting Position (MDFP)
The MDFP is a portable ballistic/blast resistant shield that provides a level of protection that maximizes deterrence and minimizes the chances of attack in terrorist-prone regions of the world.

Over 500 units are currently deployed for force protection and anti-sniper programs in various cities in Iraq, with heavy concentrations in Al Anbar Province.

MDFPs offer protection to the military, anti-terrorism teams, combat groups and observers, infrastructure security guards and others who come under the threat of rifle fire or terrorist attacks. The equipment includes an ATV-style tire option developed especially for use on rough terrain.

Security Forces at Marine Corp Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C., ordered 11 DS-191 MDFP units with red brick Camography(tm), Defenshield's method of matching aesthetic or camouflage requirements. These units will be used for hardening base entry control points.

Meanwhile, the Joint Contracting Command - Iraq purchased 60 DS-192 units that will be deployed by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF) at Camp Fallujah, Iraq and throughout Anbar Province. These units will have multi-functional roles in anti-sniper, force protection and physical security capacities.

The Defenshield DS-190 series, which will be used in Iraq and North Carolina, is certified to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IV (30-06 armor piercing) standards and designed to protect security forces in locations where the highest level of threat exists.

It is the only ballistic-resistant tool on the market that offers complete coverage and full visibility while the glazing and armor protects against armor piercing rounds.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Army executed a separate contract with Defenshield through the Army's Rapid Equipping Force (REF). The $3.5 million order sent several hundred MDFPs to high-threat combat zones in the Middle East including Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

In 2007, the Army's REF deployed 50 units throughout combat zones in Iraq, including Baghdad, Tikrit and Balad where they have proven to be valuable in rapidly establishing anti-sniper and return fire positions. The unique design and mobility of the units make them highly effective in situations where force protection requirements change frequently and without warning.

Within the past year, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have all deployed Defenshield MDFPs to reinforce and harden overwatch positions at base entry control points, providing a higher level of protection that maximizes deterrence and minimizes the chances of attack by persons attempting to breach a secure area.

Barrier Caps
In addition to the MDFPs, the Joint Contracting Command - Iraq ordered 10 NIJ Level IV Barrier Caps for the U.S. Air Force Security Forces operating at the Kirkuk Air Base in Kirkuk, Iraq.

The Barrier Cap is an armor and glass system designed to add vertical transparent ballistic and blast protection to concrete barriers.

Ideal for military bases and outposts, as well as critical infrastructure and heavily secured facilities, the Barrier Cap is an effective way to create a secure area that allows for 360-degree visibility. Standard widths are 4 feet and 10 feet, weighing 700 pounds and 2,000 pounds, respectively.

"Defenshield Barrier Caps and MDFPs are proven life-saving tools to harden entry control points and allow return fire from a place of security and safety for our troops," said Collins White, president of Defenshield. "We're proud that our products have saved the lives of dozens of our deployed troops."

Source: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Defenshield_To_Deploy_MDFP_And_Barrier_Caps_To_US_Military_999.html