I dunno about this...might end up as just more battlefield litter....

Mini Battle Shield/Combat Shield Being Developed for Urban Warfare/MOUT Use

by David Crane
david@defensereview.com

A private company called Combat Body Armor (CBA) is currently developing a small, forearm-wearable ballistic shield, or "Battle Shield" (a.k.a. "Combat Shield"), for infantry warfighters. The CBA Mini Battle Shield (a.k.a. Mini Combat Shield) is being developed specifically to protect the warfighter against current enemy rifle-caliber threats (7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, and 7.62x54R) and IED (Improvised Explosive Device) shrapnel--not just pistol-caliber threats--as he exits the APC/IFV (Armored Personnel Carrier/Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and transitions to the dismounted infantry combat role. Once the soldier/Marine arrives at his destination (and any additional destination after that), the shield can be used as additional armor protection (mobile anti-rifle armor protection, if you will), as well as an armored/protective firing platform (i.e. shooting platform). The shield can also perform double duty as additional armor protection for the warfighter while he's inside the vehicle. The company stresses that the shield is intended to compliment current military body armor protection, not replace it.

http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=895

Looks like something from the middle ages, with our M4 as a sword. I do like that it is mulifacited; shield, firing platform, armor protection while inside the vehicle. It will be interesting to hear the feedback from the field on this one. I think it has it's benefits in certain combat senarios, but one thing it did NOT mention was the weight. We already carry enough equipment. I dunno either...

hmmm, plenty of space to put advertising on it too!

I didn't read size/weight info.
How heavy is the shield?
How would you deploy it?Ala police SWAT teams,first guy in the door has shield,others behind him?
Also,the shield does not look big..
How would a Marine/soldier use it in the field?You've got one arm on the shield,how do you use your rifle?
I know,I know a lotta ?,but I worked 17 hours yesterday and I'm not quite right in the head this AM.

Same questions I had...that's why I think it will end up being "battlefield litter". It may be "light weight" (though that term is never defined), but it looks awkward to wield and too small to be worth anything (of course, you have to measure all the pros and cons-- a an even bigger shield would be more awkward and heavier, so...).