In recent conflicts from Somalia and Kosovo to Iraq and Afghanistan , cargo and utility rotary wing aircraft have operated in areas with hostile small arms combatants.

The threat of single hits from antiaircraft weapons has been replaced by the real danger of hundreds of hits from individual infantry weapons in a sudden and unexpected attack.during an otherwise routine mission

Historically, only Special Operations and Search and Rescue aircraft were expected to fly in harm's way - and only these aircraft received armor protection. But now for the first time cargo and utility aircraft assigned to frontline combat units will be protected against multiple hits from small arms fire.

Maximum protection must be provided in these aircraft without suffering a weight penalty when used in totally non-hostile environments. Thus, the most effective armor is a system that can be installed and removed quickly, withstand aggressive usage and provide multi-hit protection.

Recognizing this emergent need, in 2000 the 160 th Special Operations Aviation Regiment , in conjunction with the US Special Operations Command's Technology Applications Office (TAPO) funded and outline the operation requirements document for creating a ballistic protection system. Their goal was to design the optimal armor system to protect the lives of US crewmen aboard support aircraft from the rising threat of abundant small arms fire. The contract for the development of such a system was awarded to the Protective Materials Company in 2002.

Today BPS is the only pre-approved system available to meet all operation requirements to save lives in today's multi-hit environment.

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