WILMINGTON, Del.  – DuPont Protection Technologies announced that it was awarded a contract totaling $1.4 million over three years to increase supplies of DuPont™ Nomex® brand fibers for military applications.  In addition, DuPont™ Kevlar® was selected as the ballistic spall liner material for the latest M-ATV award.  Both fibers have been used for decades to help protect U.S. soldiers from ballistic and flame threats, and the company has continually improved upon their properties to meet the ever-changing needs of the U.S. military.

Contract for DuPont™ Kevlar® Fiber In the $1.3 billion contract awarded by the U.S. Army to Oshkosh Defense, DuPont will supply Kevlar® for use in the U.S. Army’s new M-ATV (MRAP All Terrain Vehicle), the latest armored vehicle innovation that combines the mobility of a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) with the protection of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles.  Kevlar® fiber was selected based on its unique combination of properties that make it the most relevant for this application, and the proven, consistent performance of Kevlar® in the military.

Under the contract, DuPont will supply Kevlar® to Plasan, a provider of ballistic protection and crew survival solutions and a subcontractor to Oshkosh Defense.  This agreement will allow for the delivery of 5,219 armor kits for M-ATVs.  The award also includes aftermarket parts and packages.

While the MRAP vehicle has demonstrated the ability to protect troops in Iraq, its large size can impair the vehicle’s mobility in Afghanistan where the road conditions are poor and hazardous.  Kevlar® fiber helps the M-ATV deliver MRAP level protection in a smaller, more agile vehicle that is better able to navigate the rough terrain of Afghanistan.

“Kevlar® has been part of vehicle armoring systems protecting U.S. soldiers for more than 20 years,” said William F. Weber, vice president -- DuPont Protection Technologies, North America.  “We are proud that we are able to provide products and technologies that help keep our soldiers safe from life-threatening dangers.”

Kevlar® fiber, which is used in ballistic vests, anti-mine boots and helmets worn by U.S. soldiers, is also a flame-resistant material that provides thermal protection from blasts and fire.

“Vehicles armored with Kevlar® benefit the soldier in two ways,” said Patrick Owens, global marketing manager -- DuPont Protection Technologies. “It not only helps in shielding soldiers from bullets and fragmentation, but it also offers thermal protection from blasts and fire.”

Contract for DuPont™ Nomex® Fiber The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DCSP), the troop support center of the Defense Logistics Agency, awarded DuPont a three-year, $1.4 million contract to build and maintain a strategic buffer stock of Nomex® fiber used in the manufacture of flame-resistant uniforms.  This buffer stock will help meet Surge & Sustainment (S&S) requirements by reducing the production lead times for end use items containing the fiber.

“This contract will allow the Defense Logistics Agency to ensure the timely availability of Nomex® fiber to members of the value chain that form the contractual industrial base,” said Weber.  “We are committed to responding to the military’s need for critical flame-resistant clothing during times of mobilization, war, contingency and military operations.”

Nomex® fiber is an integral part of military flight suits, vehicle crewman coveralls, balaclavas, jackets and gloves.  It is inherently flame resistant and will not continue to burn after a flame source is removed.  It also creates an insulating barrier that slows the transfer of heat from a fire and gives the wearer time to escape.  Through research collaborations with the U.S. military and industry, DuPont is continually exploring ways to enhance the protective properties of Nomex® and working to provide new flame-resistant solutions to the military.

About Dupont DuPont is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Nomex® and Kevlar® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

For more information, contact: Emily Peterson Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Phone: (312) 397-6005 Email: emily.peterson@ogilvypr.com