User:Cherry pie natalie/Lviv Defense Cluster

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Lviv Defense Cluster (Ukrainian: Львівський оборонний кластер, ГО «Львівський оборонний кластер», Lviv Defence Cluster) – is a non-profit public association, officially registered in Ukraine, created as a result of an incorporation of volunteers and Ukrainian defense sector enterprises, including Kharkiv Plant of Personal Protective Equipment as a licensed manufacturer of bulletproof vests, appointed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine as the main coordinator of the volunteer movement for organizing the bulletproof vests production.

Backgrounds

In 2022, with a beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of businessmen united and established a full-scale production of bulletproof vests. Ukrainian manufacturers of armor protection, including Kharkiv Plant of Personal Protective Equipment, organized mass production in western Ukraine for the needs of the military forces.

"Since the beginning of the war, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the ranks of defense forces, such as territorial defense units, volunteers, the Armed Forces, which is in total hundreds of thousands of soldiers. The request [note: for the manufacture of body armor] is hundreds of thousands of products. This is a very urgent need."

Director of the Kharkiv Plant of Personal Protective Equipment Yuriy Fedorov

The company, involved in the production of bulletproof vests and tactical equipment for Ukrainian military forces, as well as for some NATO units, was initially based in Kharkiv. In 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, production moved to Lviv. The full cycle of military body armor production was organized at several companies that were not previously associated with the war.

During the war, the Lviv Defense Cluster became a unique example of business relocation and cooperation of Ukrainian entrepreneurs.

Activities

The association develops, manufactures and supplies bulletproof vests to Ukrainian soldiers at the war front, including together with the Lviv Regional Military Administration and the International Staff for Assistance to Ukrainians.

Production is fully financed by the initial contributions of the Cluster enterprises and charitable contributions of donors. The products of the Cluster are not for sale.

Lviv Defense Cluster is a non-profit organization and donates thousands of bulletproof vests to the Defense Forces of Ukraine free of charge only.

"Our products are not for sale neither directly, nor via any facilitators. Our task is just to provide Ukrainian Army soldiers with body armor.”

Maksym Plekhov, Chairman of the Board of the Lviv Defense Cluster

As of May 12, 2022, more than 100 tests of various materials and types of body armor were conducted, qualification was confirmed by the relevant license, numerous official test reports, and certificates.

In addition to power structures supplies, the Company also manufactures bulletproof vests for the media. In particular, their products are used by film crews of "1+1" and "2+2" Ukrainian TV channels, as well as photographers of "Reuters" and "Suddeutsche Zeitung".

The manufacturers also test armored plates (a key element of protection in a body armor) according to a specially defined procedure by shooting them with specific ammunition and determining their stability.

Since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lviv Defense Cluster has transferred more than 30,000 bulletproof vests to the war front in Ukraine.

The Company's products have been transferred to Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk at the initiative of Lviv Regional Military Administration, International Staff for Assistance to Ukrainians, and Lviv Defense Cluster.

Lviv Defense Cluster also produces cartridge carriers in addition to bulletproof vests.

Products

• "Peremoha" bulletproof vests (Ukrainian: "Перемога")
• "Kolchan" cartridge carriers (Ukrainian: "Колчан")

One bulletproof vest has a weight of 8 to 10 kilograms, depending on the type of steel used in the manufacture.

Bulletproof vests meet requirements of DSTU 8782:2018 and are of at least 4th protection class. Armor plates used for the bulletproof vests are of special hardness (from 500 and above) and thickness (minimum - 6 mm). The equipment is tested under different conditions with the main cartridges, such as 7.62 X 54 (57-H-323s) and 5.45 X 39 (7H10). Ballistic tests are performed for each batch of the materials.

"All bulletproof vests are of the fourth class of protection which completely corresponds to requirements of DSTU. When the war broke out, we took our best model, simplified it a bit and started making it actively. The unofficial name of such a bulletproof vest is "Peremoha" [English: "Victory"]. As of now, our defense cluster has sent to various units of the Ukrainian army more than 30,000 certified bulletproof vests made in Ukraine."

Chairman of the Board of the Lviv Defense Cluster Maksym Plekhov

The bulletproof vests made by Lviv Defense Cluster are completed with "Kolchan" cartridge carriers, the rights to which were granted by "Ballistics" company. The carriers have a reduced size and weight (95 g) due to the patented polyamide side wall and enable a quick reload of weapons. They are suitable for AK-47, AKM, AK-74 and AR-like weapons.

Capacity

The goal of Lviv Defense Cluster is to manufacture and supply 300,000 of bulletproof vests to protect the Ukrainian army.

Lviv Defense Cluster has its own laboratory where armored elements are tested. The tests are carried out in accordance with protection class 4 basing on the requirements of DSTU. During testing, in particular, ballistic plasticine, speedometer, correct ammunition are used, shooting is carried out from a corresponding distance of 10 meters.

Interesting Facts

On its website, Lviv Defense Cluster has posted recommendations for best choices of armored plates. Also, patterns for fast-tailoring plate carriers were disclosed for production with a minimum amount of available materials.

References

[[Category:Ukraine]] [[Category:Public organisation]]