The introduction of flak jackets in the early 1950s was designed to cut down on the high level of injury due to shrapnel wounds. The construction consisted of several layers of nylon stitched together, which was the most effective protection that could be found to replace bulky aluminum plates that were felt to be slowing troops down. At the time, tests revealed that these layers of nylon actually worked better than metal, taking into account weight, at protecting personnel.

FLAK jackets were first used in the Second World War by personnel in the US bombers flying to Germany. FLAK is the German abbreviation for Anti-Aircraft gun. These first jackets (metal plated jackets) protected personnel against FLAK shrapnel, metal pieces. These vests were very, very heavy but the wearer did not need to walk around with it.

After the development of flak jackets, the army developed combat vests that were a little more bulky and better equipped to stop projectiles. After field use in Korea, it was determined that these vests were effective at stopping 65 percent of all missiles, 75 percent of fragments, and 25 percent of small arms fire. This represented a significant life saving capability, and from then on garments such as the flak jacket and combat vest were here to stay.

Of course there have been great developments since then. Although research continues to find lighter, more effective materials for body armor, experts say that different kinds of body armor garments have been responsible for saving a great many lives. This becomes very apparent when the numbers are assessed for military, law enforcement and security personnel.

The Modern Equivalent of Flak Jackets

Flak jackets, which were once items of army apparel copied and used by the young everywhere, have developed into a much more sophisticated form of body armor that is lightweight and yet able to even stop small arms fire--much more than 25 percent of it. The search for even more effective protection continues because the development of weapons has developed. Soldiers and security forces everywhere are exposed to even more dangers now than they were back during the Vietnam and Korean Wars. Dupont, who makes the famous Kevlar fabric used for the modern equivalent of the flak jacket is now developing a new type of liquid armor that promises to outdo anything produced so far.