Designed to disconnect by the application of approximately 7 pounds of pressure, it was reported that accidental disconnects of the quick-release connectors were being encountered. The functionality of the quick-release connectors is to allow the operator to quickly remove the wearable antenna along with their body armor. This ease of disconnect is helpful to operators who routinely remove their body armor, but could also be a life-saver in an emergency when all gear must be dropped quickly.

Wearable Antenna Technologies, Inc. aggressively sought a solution to this issue, testing and evaluating four alternative quick-release designs. The connector shown above was determined to provide the best solution, offering a disconnect action which requires the operator to apply slight force to one side of the connector to initiate release. Use tests confirmed this particular quick-release connector design disallowed accidental disconnects.

During our evaluations, a second field-use issue had surfaced: the 10.5 inch cable length. To address this concern, the new generation quick-release connector cable is now 12 inches long.

First-generation cables are eligible for a free upgrade to the new, improved quick-release connectors – shipped at no charge to you. Please complete the form below to swap out your first-gen cable.

Wearable Antenna Technologies, Inc. extends thanks to all TVAS users for their great feedback – your insights allow us to make improvements based on actual field use and conditions.

A question we hear quite often at trade shows is “what happens when the Tactical Vest Antenna System gets shot?”  This is a very logical question considering that the antenna is placed on the outside of the SAPI plates, and will be one of the first pieces of equipment to be damaged by an impacting shot.

Although virtually any object can be destroyed, provided enough time and ammunition, the question we proposed is whether the antenna would be able to outlast the SAPI plate.  According the the DoD Testing Requirements for Body Armor, protective body inserts are tested to withstand a minimum of three shots, which we used as our baseline.

We knew that in theory the likelihood of the TVAS being deadlined by thee shots to be very low.  To deadline the antenna the impacting round, or shrapnel, would have to damage the impedance matching circuit or the radio connector. Although penetrating the surface of the radiating elements could cause performance degradation, we anticipated it being very nominal, if any at all.

However, unwilling to rely purely on theory, and being unable to virtualize the effects of consecutive impacting shots, we decided to see what happens in practice.

Weapons and Props

In our experiment we utilized a mannequin torso filled with mud, to simulate the combined stopping power of a human body, and SAPI plates.  To gauge performance, the antenna was setup to transmit a steady signal that was under constant monitoring.

We utilized a variety of weapons.  Most shots came from a Soviet SKS (7.62x39mm), Colt M4 Carbine (5.56x45mm NATO), and a 9mm Glock.  The first antenna was shot 30 times with the SKS, never failing.  The shots were aimed at the center mass of the torso from 75 feet, and although the antenna was significantly riddled, it did not stop performing.  Given our first experiment it is a safe assumption that in most situations the SAPI plates would fail before the Tactical Vest Antenna System.

Damage and Performance

Initially the shots were all aimed center-mass, simulating a real-world situation.  After 20 shots, and no performance degradation, it was safe to conclude that center mass of the antenna was capable at outlasting the SAPI plates.  After the 20th shot, we began placing our shots at different elements of the antenna, in attempts to disable it.  This situation would most likely never occur in a real-world situation, since hitting the radio itself, or severely injuring the radio operator, would be more feasible.

Shooting the interconnecting wires was attempted, but proved very difficult even with well-aimed shots due to the thinness of the cables. A few of our shots were aimed directly at the circuit board, one got lodged in the circuit board after making its exit from the posterior radiating plate. Although the circuitry was impacted, it did not cease functioning on the first three attempts.

Deadlining Shot

The 26th 7.62 round was the deadlining shot.  Although a number of rounds hit the circuitry board, it wasn’t until the connector to the radio was blown off the antenna stopped transmitting.    As you can see in the photographs below, the SMA radio connector was completely disintegrated.

In conclusion, considering that the Tactical Vest Antenna System was able to take over two dozen rounds, and continue operating, in majority of situations it has a much higher failure point than a SAPI plate.  Furthermore, given the small surface area of the impedance matching circuit, it would be considerably more feasible to deadline the radio, or disable the actual operator by placing shots outside the center mass.

During the invite-only breakfast prior to the Trade Show opening, WAT representatives enjoyed a talk by Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, Commanding General of the 18th Airborne Corps, on the important role of defense contractors in the stabilization and growth of North Carolina’s economy.

Congressman Larry Kissell and Senator Kay Hagan both expressed an interest in the Tactical Vest Antenna System while meeting with Bobby Dennis, President of Wearable Antenna Technologies. “I appreciate the time Senator Hagan and Congressman Kissell spent with us.”, stated Bobby Dennis after the trade show, “Wearable Antenna Technologies looks forward to expanding our mutually beneficial relationships in the defense industry through trade shows such as this one in Fayetteville.”

Senator Richard Burr, also in attendance, noted of the trade show, “70 vendors and over 300 individual participants attended this year’s trade show.  North Carolina has the 3rd largest military presence of any state in the US and this event was a great opportunity to create jobs in the state by fostering economic relationships between contractors and North Carolina companies.”

Eminent attendees of the trade show included Senator Kay Hagan, Senator Richard Burr, Congressman Larry Kissell, Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, Major General William E. Ingram, and Garrison Commander of Ft. Bragg, Colonel   Stephen J. Sicinski.

The DSTA program is designed to create collaborations with the military, entrepreneurs and innovators while fostering the rapid development of defense and security technology solutions to meet military needs and private industry demands.

DSTA will be assisting WAT Inc. with bringing the Tactical Vest Antenna System (TVAS) into the market.  DSTA’s team will provide WAT with invaluable industry expertise, technical assistance, and legal consulting.

“Wearable Antenna Technologies Inc. is looking forward to collaborating with DSTA in order to make the Tactical Vest Antenna System market ready.” said Bobby Dennis, CEO of Wearable Antenna Technologies.  Andy Potanin, VP, added, “The partnership will play a fundamental role in raising market awareness of our current, and future, products and technologies.”

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Wearable Antenna Technologies Inc, has implemented its User Evaluation Phase, in which several prototypes are provided to military personnel in order receive feedback before going into production. “We want to provide our Armed Forces with the best possible communications gear. Field testing of our gear by active duty operators provides us with invaluable feedback.” stated Andy Potanin, VP. “Far too often equipment is designed with limited input from the actual military personnel that will be using it in the future.” he added.

“There are still a number of challenges that lay ahead before we are in full production,” said Al Lee, Director of Operations “once the User Evaluation Phase is complete, tooling and durability testing must be conducted on the final design.” This testing will ensure that the components will meet the harsh conditions that are found in tactical environments.

Performance of the TVAS-IOTV will be equivalent to the performance of the TVAS-MTV as the fundamental characteristics are the same throughout the TVAS line. Official testing of the antenna’s performance has not yet been conducted, as the antenna is still in development. However, initial field testing and simulations show great promise.

“Over the last few months the TVAS has undergone a number of significant breakthroughs. The TVAS has been made slimmer, more durable, easier to use, and the overall performance has been significantly increased.” said Bobby Dennis, CEO of Wearable Antenna Technologies, “as we enter the final stages of development, we will continue to gather feedback from operational troops in order to finalize the product and release it into the market as early as January of 2009.”

The current prototype is designed for the MTV vest, the most extensively used vest in the Marine Corps. Designs for other vests, such as Improved Outer Tactical Vest and the Full Spectrum Battle Equipment are in the early stages of development and are expected to be released to the market in middle of 2009.