It also distorts less than conventional body armour when it is hit. That means it is less likely to cause serious injury by deflecting inward.
It takes eight minutes to drive to the airstrip, start the Chinook helicopter's two engines, put on body armour and weapons and make a final equipment check.
The code that says: no synthetic blue jackets with body armour (they are for sissies like me), no full-face helmets (also for girly-men) and gloves are only to be worn in snowstorms.
It is being incorporated into various things - from protective sportswear, shin pads and motorcycle clothing, to police body armour.
There have been several scandals over soldiers killed because they lacked body armour or other kit.
