The Air National Guard (ANG) published an Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) Requirements Background Summary (RBS) that gives the requirement for a “modern non-ceramic Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWP) front, back and side plates.” Furthermore, the requirements document describes the pure polyethylene plates as “providing the Defender a roughly 70% decrease in vertical load, while maintaining protection against rifle rounds without the need for lengthy non-destructive and reoccurring inspection methods.” Industry responded meeting the requirement with a UHMWPE plate that provides the requisite level of protection while improving mobility, endurance, and overall capability. The RBS also provided specific numbers and size requirements for the hard and soft armor needed to provide the ANG SFs with an Improved Modular Ballistic Protection System. The Improved Modular Ballistic Protection System includes hard and soft armor components to hold varying size front, back and side hard plates. The hard armor is a swimmer's cut standalone non-ceramic Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene plate that would save a Defender 4.1lbs (medium front and back plates) which, as mentioned, is approximately 40% lighter than their current hard armor. The total cost to outfit the Defenders with the entire system is $47M. If resources are constrained, the hard armor plate alone will satisfy the threat requirement and reduce the weight significantly as mentioned above and is $17M.