Coming out of Austria is the Quickshield, a handheld buckler-style shield for knife and stabbing weapon attacks.
Measuring 19 cm x 19 cm, it is from polycarbonate with fiberglass reinforcement it fits within an outer layer of Cordura to protect it from day-to-day wear and tear.
Eagle Industries gave us a rare treat by showing something hot off the sewing table, the “MMAC 3.0.” The reason I put the name is quoted is that this latest variant of their flagship Multi-Mission Armor Carrier likely won’t retain this variant number.
It can be configured with Tubes fasteners at the shoulders and cummerbund, along with laser cut laminate construction. Additionally, there push-to-talk (PTT) attachment points at upper left and right chest and a kangaroo-style cummerbund retention flap.
Here you can see some of the panel and cummerbund options.
Like other carriers produced by Eagle, it is Berry compliant and comes in Small – XLarge sizing options.
Aegis Kinetic Group is proud to announce the long-awaited release of our Vertex 2.0 Plate Carrier and Operating System. Since the release of Vertex 1.5 two years ago, we have been focused on optimizing our design approach and our manufacturing processes to create a product that strikes an effective balance between affordable production cost and a professional feature set. Initially designed for maritime applications, the Vertex has also shown its performance across various environments, including during professional deployments to the Arctic and Ukraine.
Made from water-resistant 500D Cordura laminate and weighing 15.2 oz, the Vertex can fit any S/M/L plate variant using Velcro® OneWrap adjustment tabs and a loop-lined plate backer (XL plates are compatible, depending on plate thickness). Ballistic plates are top-loaded into the front and rear panels of the Vertex, and the reinforced bottom ensures plate security during wear. An open design encourages immediate drainage during maritime and over-the-beach operations. The Vertex also features native wire routing beneath the carrier’s surface, sewn-in shock cord lashing points and other mounting options for PTTs, and integrated attachment loops for FIRSTSPEAR TUBES® Buckles and other quick-release options. The Vertex can be attached to existing S/M/L slick plate carriers to increase capability, and collapses for packing in a rucksack, duffel bag, or cargo pocket. Designed with third-party compatibility in mind, the Vertex is capable of accepting both hook/loop and shock cord cummerbunds. It is also compatible with placards using Crye-style attachments, G-Hooks, and buckles. The Vertex 2.0 Plate Carrier will be supported by the Vertex Operating System, which includes additional components such as removable front and rear load-bearing frames as well as unique placard, cummerbund, and pouch options. These and other products will be released periodically throughout the remainder of 2025 and 2026.
The Vertex 2.0 Plate Carrier and Operating System are designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. with Berry Compliant laminate and thermoplastic materials. For MIL/LE sales, email sales@aegiskineticgroup.com. Product variants with improved hydrophobic performance and flame-resistant properties, as well as other unit-specific customizations, are available upon request.
Adept Armor offered us a sneak peek at a few new items they’ve been working on. One of the things I appreciate about Adept Armor is that they look at things from a different perspective, trying out new materials and old materials in new ways.
Take for instance the Novasteel Breastplate which is intended as Ballistic Riot Armor. It offers:
You can also see the Ballistic Mandible which is fitted to the High-Cut Helmet.
These items are made from Novasteel which is fully VPAM 3 compliant, and is capable of stopping a wide variety of potent special threats, including:
• 7.62x25mm Tokarev at 1650 feet per second.
• 5.7x28mm ball rounds at over 2000 feet per second.
• 9x19mm 80gr. solid copper spun (SCS) rounds at carbine velocities.
Developed in response to European military requirements, the Archon Plate will debut at Milipol Paris 2025 in Booth 5 G 601, Nov. 18 – 21, 2025, at Paris Nord Villepinte.
Denison, TX. (November 2025) – Adept Armor, pioneers in next-gen protective solutions, is pleased to introduce the Archon Level IV Plate. Developed in response to European military requirements, the Archon represents the ideal balance between protection, weight, and comfort for today’s combat scenarios. Weighing in at just 5.75 lbs. and measuring 10 x 12” at a 1” thickness, the Archon delivers comprehensive protection from both the .30-06 M2 AP and modern intermediate-caliber AP threats while maintaining an exceptionally light weight. Adept Armor will debut the Archon Plate at Milipol Paris 2025, taking place Nov. 18 – 21, 2025, at Paris Nord Villepinte, where the company will exhibit at Booth 5 G 601.
While peer adversaries increasingly field advanced tungsten-cored threats such as 5.45x39mm 7N24, 7N39, and next-generation 5.8mm AP rounds, most Level IV plates were designed around yesterday’s threats. The Archon is a culmination of focused engineering, maximizing protection from the threats one is most likely to face, while keeping weight at the absolute minimum. It is built for those who need assured protection from 5.56mm, 5.45mm, and 5.8mm tungsten-cored threats without the weight penalty of heavy-duty Level IV+ plates like the Colossus.
“By optimizing for intermediate-caliber tungsten threats rather than over-engineering for every possible threat, we’ve created a plate that delivers exactly what modern warfighters need. Nothing more, nothing less,” said Jake Ganor, President of Adept Armor.
The Archon features a SiC-TiB2 composite strike face, a next-gen ceramic material developed specifically to counter tungsten-cored small arms threats. It features a next-gen UHMWPE composite backer with an integrated, premium Ivoryguard thermoplastic foam on the body side for exceptional comfort and trauma reduction. The resilient thermoplastic foam is also included in the molded padding on the strike-face for practical drop and impact protection. Featuring a multi-curve design for comfort and a better form fit, the Archon has a full-sized strike face with full edge-to-edge ceramic coverage.
The Adept Armor Archon plate is multi-hit capable against the following:
For more information on Adept Armor, visit its website or follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
The ballistic shield was conceived after a consultation in which tactical operators described repeated challenges associated with traditional shields: difficulty moving inside buses, trains or narrow hallways, limited ability to climb while protected, and exposure when breaking windows or entering vehicles. N.O.C.S required a shield that could travel everywhere they could; up staircases, through tight door-frames, across vehicle interiors and into elevated access points, without sacrificing protection. This request shaped the first design brief for NOX.
The shield’s small footprint allows it to be carried with one arm or worn on the shoulder or back, giving full mobility in confined environments. A dedicated handgun rest allows accurate fire from behind cover and its tungsten glass-breaking spikes provide rapid access to vehicles and building interiors, capabilities tested extensively by the N.O.C.S. team.
“Our missions often require rapid access through vehicles or elevated windows where conventional shields simply do not fit. At those moments, an operator was exposed the instant he appeared at the threshold. With this shield, we will have protection during those crucial seconds. It gives us speed, control, and safety under conditions where every movement matters.”
– N.O.C.S. leadership
Throughout development, the unit provided hands-on feedback that influenced every detail, from the ergonomics of the padding to the geometry of the handles for gloved use, ultimately leading to a refined and certified second version.
“NOX is the result of genuine cooperation, where a field requirement became a tangible solution. The operators told us exactly where existing shields limited them and by working together, we produced a shield that maintains ballistic protection while allowing full mobility. NOX is small, fast, practical, and built for the realities of close-quarters operations.”
– Bianca Revello, Area Manager at Integers
NOX is available in NIJ IIIA configuration and up to Level III+ (7.62×39 MSC), with optional lighting, patches, and accessories. Despite its compact size, it integrates seamlessly with larger column shields during coordinated entry, providing protection in the tight interior spaces that follow.
NOX is a part of the “Design Your Own Shield”program where Integris allows tactical units to customise ballistic shields to their exact mission needs; shape, handles, weight targets, protection level and accessories. With 3D ergonomic samples and prototype hardware for testing, teams can validate handling before production and receive a shield built for their environment and specific needs.
N.O.C.S operator breaking car glass with the NOX shield.
For more information about our ballistic shields: integriscomposites.com/personalprotection/ballistic-shields
The latest addition to KommandoStore’s high quality line of Strelka reproductions is the Defender 2 armor vest. Currently offered for preorder with delivery in January 2026, this is the vest created in response to lessons learned during the early 90s conflict in Chechnya. In fact, this model is based on the difficult to find Emerald version of the vest.
The Defender 2 is available as a vest only or as a full kit. If you opt for the full bundle, they provide enough AK magazine pouches for a full “placard” loadout, so you’ll be able to carry 3 mags with elastic retention. Also included are a large GP pouch and a Radio Pouch.
The rig is also furnished with foam inserts or you can provide your own plates.
kommandostore.com/products/strelka-defender-2-plate-carrier
