The Vertex Plate Carrier System is the law enforcement version of KDH’s U.S. Army Plate Carrier System currently issued to all combat troops in Afghanistan (over 60,000 units). Following lengthy review, field evaluations and analysis, the U.S. Army chose the KDH Magnum TAC-1 system over all other competitors designs. The award was based in part on the following key factors: (1.) weight and comfort, (2.) ballistic performance, and (3.) delivery schedule. The Magnum TAC-1 was the lightest of the plate carriers studied by the U.S. Army and it had the highest ballistic performance as well. This plate carrier/vest provides the soldier with a lightweight option to the standard issue IOTV vest and is designed to meet the requirements of troops working in high-altitude with rugged terrain. The system balances the fine line between coverage vs. mobility.