It has been thirty years since I attended Milipol for the first time (i.e. 1989).  At the time, Milipol consisted of a regional, smaller event with few, if any, U.S. participants.   In essence, it was a French-oriented driven show.  The European Union did not exist then.  

UHMWPE fibers were at an embryonic stage at the time, and facing strong opposition from the aramid suppliers as the lighter armor option.  In the U.S. in particular, the UHMWPE armor efforts confronted a high barrier to entry, as armor Mil Specs were set in stone and strong misinformation / doubts were rampant.  Even so, an innovative alternative to aramid woven products was introduced:  the UD 0/90 cross plied system.  The UD cross ply concept provided a more effective energy dissipation than aramid woven products.  Still, it was clear that the acceptance of UD UHMWPE armor systems only would happen if a first world army would adopt them.  

As the U.S. opposition stiffened up, we looked at alternative routes.  The recommendation to take the UD armor concept to Europe was raised. Specifically, I recommended to channel our efforts in France.  Why France…? …And how could I convince AlliedSignal's management to accept such an approach? We put forth the argument that France’s innovative spirit was represented by concepts such as Minitel, TGV, Airbus, the Concorde, Exocet missile etc.  Milipol was identified as the main channel for exposure along with the Paris Airshow as the backup.  Both events were actively and successfully utilized, but Milipol played a critical role.   

MiliPol became the innovation Laboratory for UHMWPE composite and UD systems.  In 1991, under AlliedSignal (today Honeywell), Spectra Shield (UHMWPE UD) was exhibited for the first time at Milipol, having targeted the French armed forces; as they were known to the industry as early users and adopters.  The Bosnia conflict was accelerating and immediate assistance/protection was required for the UN Peacekeeping forces – from sharpshooters in particular.  The French Army, through their Scercat organization, asked if we could come up with a helmet that would stop a rifle round at a specific distance with less than a 10% increase of the weight to current aramid fragmentation helmets.  We thought it was possible, and Scercat then realized that their level III ceramic breast plates weight could also be replaced by a lighter(?) 100% polyethylene UHMWPE system.  Again, the concepts and solutions were addressed at subsequent shows (Paris Airshow 92, Milipol 93, 95…) as AlliedSignal had stands in both events. 

I recall the meetings at the show where the development and design optimization happened on a daily basis.  Those verbal trials, paper napkin designs and back of the envelope potential volume needs led to three intensive days at Milipol - as key technical, marketing and leaders were present at the show. 

Milipol became a living laboratory... not only regarding Armor development and UD validation but also manufacturing aspects, sales development, scheduling, commitment agreements with the raw material suppliers, fabricators, end-users and government agencies… all occurring in prompt, spur of the moment meetings happening in aisles and cafés.    

The UHMWPE fiber brand names – Dyneema and Spectra - The UD Armor concepts - Spectra Shield PCR, Dyneema UD 66 terminology became equivalent to state-of-the-art armor.  

Milipol became the global show to be at in order to keep up with new armor developments... It was The Place where one could introduce and discuss future applications and developments.  It is important to remember that the internet, email and search engines did not exist at this time.  Milipol was “the search engine” where the armor scientific leaders, armor strategists, visionaries and marketing leaders met. 

While this was happening in France, soft armor was being developed in the United States.  Developments progressed parallel to the ones in France. 

UD UHMWPE soft armor was starting to take off with the law enforcement agencies in the US, but remained under tremendous pressure by the aramid suppliers and weavers who defended their well-established position.  The interest in UHMWPE UD armor developed at Milipol in conjunction to the success with the French Army acted as a deterrent to the aramid woven armor efforts.

While Milipol behaved as a catalyst to offset the misconception that Polyethylene armor was not effective – AlliedSignal started looking at a UD version 2.0.   An aramid UD version was agreed upon and developed again in the aisles of Milipol.   I still remember the long and complicated meetings that took place in order to reach an agreement to create an aramid UD with the support of an aramid supplier.  AkzoNobel (Teijin today) had the same visionary and innovative spirit as AlliedSignal.  As a result of these two organizations meeting at Milipol, aramid UD became a reality.  In the mid-90s, we introduced an aramid UD version at Milipol.   

This introduction resulted in a critical step forward, as it opened the doors to new innovation and disruption Hybridization became a norm and aramid suppliers adopted the UHMWPE hybridization option.

The fact that a relatively small regional show named Milipol Paris brought technical and military participants together allowed material suppliers to have direct conversation with the operators – US companies realized that this became “a must attend” show.   Milipol became an innovation armor laboratory.  A show that thrived with the introduction of new concepts, systems, designs, and processing in a platform that encouraged participants to argue and discuss / answer questions and address doubts of new entrant’s vs well established armor systems (aramid, glass fiber, steel). 

As I go back in time, I realize that Milipol was instrumental in the implementation / introduction of a number of key armor systems of today.  These are a few of the landmarks of the time: 

·       UHMWPE Fiber introduced at Milipol as an alternative armor system to aramid

·       UD armor systems became the disruptive factor to woven armor products - an innovation that changed armor for good.

·       UHMWPE UD helmet introduced and deployed with the French Army- The first helmet with fragment and with level III protection – and that was in the early 90's!

·       In parallel, we introduced the first UD NIJ level III 100% UHMWPE breast plates - again with the French army - Prior to that, plates consisted of a combination of ceramic with either aramid or glass fiber backing.

·       These two systems deployed successfully with the French Army Peace Keeping troops in Sarajevo.  It consisted of the first military implementation of UHMWPE armor

·       CFG Gallet and SNPE were the first large UHMWPE UD armor fabricators.

·       Vehicle armor opportunities followed right after in subsequent MiliPols.

·       UD Aramid introduction and Hybridization efforts started 

In essence, Milipol was the catalyst to the creation of innovative armor through people and organizations that met and cooperated at this show...names that come to mind like SCERCAT, Camp Satory, C.G.F. Gallet, SNPE, Boyé, Mr. Wolff, Adrian Gallet, Carrere, Goulard, Gansemann, Larounis, Grethner, Carabedian, Colonel Dusuaccy, General Augusseu  and so many more were instrumental to all this success.   

This would have not been possible without AlliedSignal’s vision and willingness to take the risk and move all developments to Europe; to a relatively unknown show. As well as DSM having the vision to invest and build the largest global capacities of UHMWPE with plants in the US, Europe and Asia.  This allowed us at DSM to take the lead in the UHMWPE armor systems. 

What a change to today’s Milipol... as I walked the show last week, I could see that UHMWPE UD armor is as natural as Aramid woven fabrics were 30 years ago. One can also sense that this show has become a global trade show…that the innovation fever of the nineties and early 2000’s has faded away. 

This past week I talked to old colleagues, old friends and former customers, and it became clear that the "Milipol Lab" as we knew it is no more... as with everything, Milipol has matured and grown into an important defense trade show covering much more than armor.  It has become an excellent trade show but for those minds like ours that are looking for a living laboratory like the Milipol of the past… Well, only time will tell where and in what form we will find it…. most likely in the virtual form. …que será, será??