U.S. Suing Honeywell Over Defective Military Vests

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The U.S. government is suing Honeywell International (HON) over defective product material. The Justice Department alleges Honeywell sold ballistic material used in bulletproof vests that it knew to be defective.

Scientific data showed the ballistic material, known as Zylon Shield, "degraded quickly over time, especially in hot and humid conditions," according to the Justice Department lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Honeywell knew about the data and failed to inform Armor Holdings Inc., the vest manufacturer, of the defect.

"We believe there is no factual or legal basis for the Justice Department's case ... and we intend to vigorously defend against these claims," Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe told Dow Jones Newswire.

Between 2000 and 2005 the government spent $1.3 million on 1,700 vests supplied by Armor Holdings that were made with Honeywell's Zylon Shield.

The FBI and the Army Criminal Investigative Division are working together in an investigation of several vendors they believe played a role in producing the defective bulletproof vests.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday under the False Claims Acts in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.