An Army official quickly refuted a May 17 NBC News report challenging the use of Interceptor body armor over newer Dragon Skin armor, developed by Pinnacle Armor Inc. saying U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan use the best available body armor.

At a May 21 Pentagon press conference, Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown released test results that ruled out Dragon Skin a year ago.

The Army subjected Dragon Skin armor to the same tests Interceptor body armor goes through at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., May 16 to 19, 2006.

Of eight Dragon Skin vests tested, four failed, with 13 rounds penetrating completely on the first or second shot, General Brown said. After the first complete penetration, the vests technically failed the test, but he said the Army continued testing to ensure fairness.

The Army also subjected Dragon Skin vests to extreme temperature variations, from minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, to reflect cold temperatures experienced during airplane transport to the war zone and the hot Middle East climate.

Temperature tests caused the adhesive holding the Dragon Skin's protective discs together to fail, and the discs gathered at the bottom of the vest, leaving gaps in protection.

General Brown also noted that extra large Dragon Skin vests are 47.5 pounds and 1.7 to 1.9 inches thick; large size Interceptor vests, which offer equivalent coverage, weigh 28 pounds and are 1.3 inches thick.

"Pinnacle has never once responded to a full and open competition ... they have never gone head-to-head with other producers that have passed that test protocol with zero penetration," he said. Although some Interceptor body armor failed in initial testing, General Brown said the body armor the troops wear now has passed all of the tests.

"Bottom line is, it does not meet Army standards," General Brown said of the Dragon Skin product.

Congress has indicated that it will look into the matter.

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