Modular Scalable Vest

The Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) is a bullet-resistant vest that has been introduced by the United States Armed Forces in 2018.

Modular Scalable Vest
A Modular Scalable Vest on display at Fort Belvoir in 2019
Type	Body armor
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	2018 - Present
Used by	U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force

The Modular Scalable Vest is replacing the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, which debuted in 2008. The MSV is 5 pounds lighter when fully loaded with ballistic plates compared with its predecessor, the IOTV.[1] The MSV fully loaded weighs 25 pounds.[2]

The MSV has a four-tier configuration, allowing it to be scaled up or down depending on the threat and mission requirements. The first tier is concealable body armor. The second tier adds hard armor plates. The third tier includes the carrier and ballistic plates with the soft armor, and the fourth tier adds a “ballistic combat shirt that has built in neck, shoulder and pelvic protection and a belt system to move items from the vest to the hips.”

A typical soldiers loadout on the MSV Gen II.

Only a few ballistic material suppliers have been able to comply with the armor panel weight specifications demanded by the US Military: Teijn Aramid, DSM Dyneema and Honeywell Spectra. The U.S. Air Force has began to issue the MSV to replace the IOTV, with the goal of issuing it exclusively by the end of fiscal year 2022.[3]