Over this past Summer, Tactical Advantage, Inc. negotiated with BAE Systems to purchase all remaining ECLiPSE load carriage equipment inventory from all of BAE’s production facilities. As a result, they’ve taken in over 23,000 pieces of ECLiPSE LCE MOLLE gear in ABU, ACU, Coyote Brown, MJK Khaki, Multicam OCP, Ranger Green, and a small amount of Black.
ECLiPSE was originally developed in conjunction with Matt Johnson, formerly of Eagle, while under the employment of BAE Systems. The product line started with the RBAV-SF, developed to fulfill a USSOCOM contract for a SPEAR BALCS compatible carrier. Different configurations of the RBAV have been in use with the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, as well as Air Force Security Forces, TACPs, and PJs.
In 2008, BAE Systems began to offer the RBAV family of vests and complementary load carriage equipment through the commercial market. In 2012, BAE Systems was outbid on the standard issue MOLLE contract, and any new production of the ECLiPSE line discontinued. Now, Tactical Advantage, Inc. is the sole commercial source of all remaining ECLiPSE Performance Gear, although BAE Systems maintains the copyright of the brand.
Key features of the ECLiPSE line include:
Currently, Tactical Advantage, Inc. is offering a 25% discount on all Coyote, Khaki, and Ranger Green ECLiPSE products, and a 50% discount on all ABU and ACU ECLiPSE products, until current stock runs out. ECLiPSE products are wholly US made and Berry compliant.
Tags: BAE Systems, Tactical Advantage
Unfortunately Entrygear refuses to sell to anyone not in the US.
NATO and other allies, including close ones like Canadians (which I am), British, etc… can’t buy from them. A ridiculous and unjustifiable company policy in my opinion.
I can’t complain about things that are ITAR regulated – obviously they have to complain to US laws. But blocking the website entirely to anyone not in the US is ridiculous. Usually not an issue as many items can be bought elsewhere, but items like the Eagle SOFBAV or these Eclipse items are hard to find.
Like he said, it has to do with distribution. In the case of BAE, because they offer such a wide range of ITAR regulated products, they put restrictions on everything, down to the tiniest item, so that they don’t put their entire business at risk.
We’d love to help our our NATO allies. Unfortunately, since over two thirds of our primary suppliers, including BAE Systems, ATK Eagle, Safariland, Camelbak and ATK Blackhawk among others, don’t want their domestic dealers exporting their products it doesn’t leave us a whole lot to offer. If other dealers choose to willfully violate the terms of their business relationships with these companies that is their business. We are contractually bound with some of these companies not to export their products. Our business ethics dictate we honor the guidelines of the relationships we enter into with our suppliers.
Thanks for the answer, I appreciate that you chimed in.
Would it be possible to allow users from other countries to at least have a look at the catalog? As it is, the entire website is blocked and that is what I find excessive.
When is the last time you tried to access our site? We actually turned the blocks off over 4 months ago due to the negative impact it had on our Google rankings.
Wait, so the lost ONE contract and as a result they discontinue the whole brand!?
Our understanding is that there was not enough demand on the commercial side and not enough contracts on the gov/mil side to justify keeping entire production facilities online. It’s unfortunate, but these are the type of things that happen during and after the draw down of a 10+ year war. Everyone has witnessed the dissolution of several large companies and/or brands over the past two years. ECLiPSE is a fantastic product line and it is our hope that Tactical Advantage can get some strong interest and momentum to continue with the brand going forward.