ArmorWorks showed a new body armor at both Modern day Marine and AUSA. They refer to it as Ultra Low Profile (ULP) armor.
It is available in both Male and Female versions. Inserts include Level II and III-A, Stab, and Armor Plate.
For more information contact ArmorWorks LLC.
Photos courtesy of ArmorWorks, LLC.
Back in May we published an article about the Air Force’s slow response to field an FR combat uniform. Well, it looks like there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. 2500 to 3000 ensembles consisting of jacket, pants, and combat shirt should be issued in February although officials don’t anticipate full fielding for at least a year. The Air Force is planning a much larger wear test of up to 10,000 sets next summer and fielding would follow from that. Why has this taken so long? Much of it has to do with the service’s desire to go their own way rather than just adapt Army or Marine FR clothing items by changing the clothing’s camouflage pattern. For example, sources tell us that development of the Airman Battle Shirt was stalled in order to integrate forearm pockets into the design. For a description of the entire ABS-G systems read this.
Additionally, efforts to field an Air Force variant of the IOTV have been stymied, and a completely new body armor system is under development. Naturally, the new armor will be in the Air Force pattern but no solicitation articulating requirements has been issued.
Undergarments
Men’s boxers, women’s panties, short and long-sleeved T-shirts, a bra, and long underwear pants will be fielded in the same Sand color as the current ABU T-shirt. The garments can be worn alone or in concert with one another along the lines of the Army’s Gen III ECWCS.
Airman Battle Ensemble
The FR Airman Battle Ensemble will be fielded in the ABU’s digital Tigerstripe pattern which adapted the Army’s UCP colorway by adding a fourth color; Slate. Since the garment consisting of a jacket and trousers is designed specifically for combat the overall design has been altered slightly from the ABU although it’s general appearance will remain the same.
The jacket unfortunately retains the front zipper as well as the same useless, four chest pockets found on the ABU/BDU but adds zippered pockets on the upper sleeve as well velcro pockets on the forearm.
The trousers a near exact copy of the FR variant of the ACU.
Airman Battle Shirt
Along the same lines as the Marine Corps’ FROG shirt and Army’s Combat Shirt, the ABS will feature a moisture-wicking torso mated to FR sleeves with padded elbows and the same sleeve and forearm pocket setup as the Battle Ensemble jacket. Currently, the ABS has a mock turtleneck like the ACS. The torso will be a a solid color and the sleeves in digital Tigerstripe.
Foul-weather Jacket and Trousers
For inclement weather the Air Force is planning a lightweight rainsuit. There is also discussion of a solid colored fleece jacket although no one has gone so far as to consider a program on the level of FREE or Gen III ECWCS for the Air Force.
Accessories
FR socks, balaclavas, gloves, as well as belts are under development and will join the other equipment as they are ready for fielding although most of these items are available commercially.
Armor
Although not officially a component of ABS-G, the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) developed for ACC’s SF community and soon adopted for all Security Forces AF-wide is now available in the Air Force digital pattern. Additionally, an Air Force unique body armor system is under development.
Armorworks LLC has developed the ultimate in concealable armor. The system combines a compression body suit with a softarmor insert that slightly overlaps. The carrier moves with the body and the armor insert flexes along with the body’s movement in order to ensure there are no uncovered zones.
For more information contact ArmorWorks LLC.
BAE unveiled their Integrated Warrior System at AUSA.
We recently posted some pictures of their low viz plate carrier. For the IWS the low viz carrier is paired with a plate carrier. The low viz carrier features rifle magazine pouches of Tweave along the cummerbund. It has also been upgraded with some hypalon on the shoulders. It corresponds with hypalon on the inner shoulder area of the plate carrier to lock it in place. The plate carrier reminds me of the old Interim Small Arms Protective Overvest (ISAPO) for the PASGT vest. No extraneous material, just a plate carrier designed to enhance the protection level of the armor.
The plates in the carrier feature a film that acts as a battery. Defense News gave some great coverage of the plates last week.
The Marines recently fielded a new Scalable Plate Carrier. At the time of the article we did not know the manufacturer but we can now confirm that it was designed and manufactured by Eagle Industries. At the recent AUSA annual meeting Eagle displayed a version of the carrier in UCP but while several units are interested in the product, there have been no overtures from PEO-Soldier. However, as more and more Soldiers see their Marine brothers in arms wearing the lightweight armor, we expect them to begin to request similar systems.
Newcomer to the armor game Archangel Armor has teamed with load bearing genius Mystery Ranch to produce what we consider the next evolutionary step in body armor design; Load Bearing Armor. Take a look at the photo above. Mystery Ranch has adapted their pack frame system to distribute the load across the shoulders and waist like a pack. Additionally, this design provides for better air circulation and helps to eliminate injuries from back face deformation. The design utilizes life support capable Cobra buckles to bear the weight of the armor and any plates or packs attached to the frame. They are currently working on a single pull cut away system that will activate all of the buckles simultaneously and will simplify reassembly to, in the words of developer, Paul Carter, “20 Seconds”.
You really have to see it to believe it and this video shot by Marine Corps Times at Modern Day Marine gives you a pretty good idea of the concept.
Photo and video from Marine Corps Times.
Here are some pictures of the BAE RBAV and Low Viz Carrier. Please note that at present the Multicam is not a standard item.
Diamondback Tactical has just released a sale catalog. There is also a “Lucky 21″ sale featured on the back cover of the catalog. When you purchase any combination of three pouches from the list of 21 different pouches shown, you get them for $21.00 while they last (buy as many as you like but hurry, they’re limited to stock on hand).
Sale prices in this catalog are good through December 31, 2008. Certain restrictions apply.
The sale catalog is available here.
I have seen a lot of guys building Rube Goldberg contraptions to air out their armor after a mission. I recently ran across Russ Innovations’ design. They offer a hanger designed to not only dry the vest between uses but provides a handy way to store it or configure it for use.
The hanger on the right is slightly larger and designed for full military armor.
As you can see from the side view, the design allows for ample air circulation and the hanger can be hung up or opened like an easel.
The price is reasonable and it is warrantied for 25 years from the date of purchase. Available from Flakvesthangers.com.
Photos property of Russ Innovations Incorporated.
