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FirstSpear Friday Focus: Low Visibility Plate Carrier (LVPC)

Friday, July 17th, 2026

Protection doesn’t have to announce itself. The FirstSpear LOW VISIBILITY PLATE CARRIER is engineered for the modern operator who demands maximum performance with minimal presence. Designed for plainclothes operations, undercover roles, and urban environments where stealth is non-negotiable, the LVPC combines a discreet profile with advanced functionality that full-duty carriers are built around. Front-integrated shoulder straps reduce obstruction and keep your silhouette clean, while a compression fit on the user side keeps plates locked in place and out of the way.

Features:

Low-Profile Design for Plainclothes Operations
Placard-Ready with Full Loop Surfaces
Integrated Left/Right Radio Pockets
Infinitely Adjustable Fast Cummerbund

At its core, the LOW VISIBILITY PLATE CARRIER is built around modularity and mission adaptability. Available in SAPI and Swimmer cut configurations to fit a range of body types and operational requirements, and offered in Black and Manatee Grey, the LVPC kit includes your choice of front and back panels along with a FAST Cummerbund that adjusts from S to 3XL. Whether you are running an undercover detail or a plainclothes protection assignment, the LVPC keeps you protected without compromising your cover.

Built for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and prepared professionals who demand reliable equipment, the LOW VISIBILITY PLATE CARRIER delivers full-spectrum protection without sacrificing discretion or mobility. Where reliability meets low profile. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and those who train. For more information visit First-Spear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Armor, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post | No Comments »

NP Aerospace to Acquire ITEN Defense and Expand Into the US Market

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

Coventry, UK — 22 Jun 26 — NP Aerospace, a leading global armour technology manufacturer and vehicle integrator, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Iten Defense, a U.S. based specialist provider of advanced defence protection solutions, from Edgewater Capital Partners and other minority shareholders.

The acquisition will strengthen NP Aerospace’s and Iten’s portfolio of survivability and protection technologies, enhancing its ability to support defence and security customers with mission-critical armour solutions across global markets.

“This is an important strategic step for NP Aerospace as we continue to invest in advanced protection technologies and expand our capabilities for customers worldwide,” said James Kempston, Chief Executive Officer of NP Aerospace. “Iten Defense brings strong technical expertise, manufacturing capacity, and complementary capabilities, and we look forward to working with the team following completion.”

“In close partnership with Iten’s management team, we’ve transformed the business over the past few years through a series of strategic initiatives and investments in expanded capabilities. We are confident that the combination with NP Aerospace will further accelerate Iten’s growth as a leader in advanced protection solutions,” said Pete Ostergard, Managing Partner of Edgewater Capital.

Iten Defense CEO, Damon Walsh, commented: “This is great news for Iten and, more importantly, for our customers. As a larger global enterprise with combined engineering and technical know-how, we will be well placed to respond to today’s increasingly complex defense requirements at a pace to best serve our customers’ needs.”

Until closing, NP Aerospace and Iten Defense will continue to operate as independent businesses.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including certain government and regulatory approvals. The transaction will close promptly following satisfaction of these conditions. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Posted in Armor, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

RTS Tactical Receives US Patent, Raising the Standard for Ballistic Shield Protection

Monday, June 22nd, 2026

U.S. Patent No. 12,624,927 Recognizes RTS Tactical’s Innovative Boltless Viewport Assembly for Ballistic Shields

RTS Tactical, a leading manufacturer of body armor and tactical gear solutions for our men and women in uniform, announced that it has been awarded another U.S. Patent for its Boltless Viewport for a Ballistic Shield.

Designed to address longstanding challenges associated with traditional Ballistic Shield Glass viewport construction, the patented system reflects RTS Tactical’s mission to Raise The Standard for modern body armor.

Traditional ballistic shield viewports typically rely on bolts or adhesive systems to secure transparent armor to the shield body. While widely used throughout the industry, these methods can introduce gaps, weak points, and can degrade under heat or repeated impact. RTS Tactical’s patented boltless viewport assembly was developed to create a more reliable solution, eliminating the need for traditional viewport bolts or boltless systems that rely on adhesives, while providing a secure mechanical connection of the viewport to the shield body.

The newly patented technology is currently featured in several RTS Tactical ballistic shield platforms, including the LEGION Ballistic Shield, Centurion Ballistic Shield, and Lead Entry Ballistic Shield, all designed to meet the evolving needs of law enforcement and tactical professionals operating in high-risk environments.

The issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,624,927 represents more than intellectual property protection. It serves as recognition of RTS Tactical’s continued investment in research, development, and advanced engineering.

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Ferro Concepts – 5AC Cobra Buckle Kit

Friday, June 19th, 2026

The new 5AC Cobra Buckle Kit converts the 5″ Assault Cummerbund front Velcro interface into a rugged, quick-release buckle connection that secures directly to the front plate pockets.

Features:

Compatible with the 5″ Assault Cummerbund only
Constructed with laser cut thermoplastic
Does not reflect under IR light/NOD
No modification required to 5″ Assault Cummerbund
No loss of MOLLE on 5″ Assault Cummerbund
Made in USA

ferroconcepts.com/products/5ac-cobra-kit

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Qore Performance Enhances ICEPLATE EXO Gen 3 Plate Carrier with New Berry Compliant Trelleborg Brigade Laminate

Friday, June 12th, 2026

Knoxville, TN – June 11, 2026 – Qore Performance, Inc., the leaders in human performance architecture and thermoregulation technology, is proud to announce an immediate material update for ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 Ultralight Minimalist Plate Carrier. Starting this Thursday, ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 will feature an all-new, fully Berry Compliant Trelleborg Brigade laminate, offering procurement officers and end-users uncompromised compliance alongside elite structural performance.

Recognizing the diverse requirements of institutional purchasing organizations, Qore Performance now offers ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 in two distinct high-performance material configurations: the new Berry Compliant Trelleborg Brigade laminate option and the established USMCA Compliant Carolina Performance Fabrics Endurance Cordura® laminate option. This dual-material availability ensures that military, law enforcement, and federal agencies can easily meet specific domestic sourcing mandates without sacrificing the operational advantages of the platform.

Engineering the Unfair Advantage

ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 functions as a definitive human readiness infrastructure rather than a traditional plate carrier. By integrating patented ICEPLATE®, ICEFLASK®, and ICEVENTS® technologies, the platform transforms temperature from an environmental constraint into an advantage.

Key technical specifications and capabilities include:

Integrated Thermoregulation: Directly accepts ICEPLATE® Gen 3 (52.4 fl oz / 1.55 L) to deliver conductive cooling up to 70W or heating up to 52W per plate, optimizing operator core temperature while mitigating heat injuries and fatigue.

Ultralight Architecture: Features a dry chassis weight of approximately 15.2 oz (0.95 lb) without cummerbund, and approximately 23.2 oz (1.45 lb) when paired with an AXL Equinox cummerbund.

Premium Materials: Built with a Trelleborg Brigade laminate or Endurance Cordura® laminate chassis, premium Velcro®, shock cord, and 500D nylon.

NIR Compliance: Signature Management: Both Berry and USMCA options utilize a 500D Cordura® outer layer for native NIR compliance across all Mil / LEO colorways (excluding HiVis).

Armor Compatibility: Medium profile accommodates Medium ESAPI multi-curve plates (approximately 9.5″ x 12.5″ x 1.1″); Large profile fits Large ESAPI plates (approximately 10.25″ x 13.25″ x 1.1″).

Modular Integration: Equipped with laser-cut SwiftClip and G-Hook compatibility with SwiftClips included for seamless placard transitions.

“By introducing Trelleborg Brigade laminate, we are giving purchasing organizations the absolute best of both worlds: strict Berry Compliance and the unmatched thermoregulation dominance of the ICEPLATE EXO® platform. This update allows for seamless deployment across any federal, military, or agency procurement pipeline,” said Austin Pitsch, Marketing Manager of Qore Performance.

ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 is available with Berry Compliant options starting this Thursday, 11 June 2026. Professional end-users can view product details and place orders directly at www.qoreperformance.com/products/iceplate-exo.

For corporate, institutional, or government procurement inquiries requiring official agency quotes, please visit the Qore Performance Procurement Portal to ensure rapid routing to a sales specialist.

Posted in Advertiser, Armor, Materials, Press Release | No Comments »

Cadre Holdings Subsidiary Safariland Selected as Ballistic Provider for FBI Armor Contract

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

Award Underscores Competitive Strength of Cadre’s Product Segment and Mission-Critical Market Position

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CDRE), a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of safety equipment and other related products for the law enforcement, first responder, military and nuclear markets, today announced that its subsidiary Safariland® has been selected as the ballistic panel provider integrated into Predictive Ballistics LLC’s Overt Armor Kit (OAK). Predictive Ballistics was recently awarded a five-year, $61 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The OAK system is also available to the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other Department of Justice agencies.

The selection of Safariland’s SX™ HP ballistic panel, introduced in 2025, as the ballistic package for this contract demonstrates accelerating commercial adoption of the product and validates Cadre’s ongoing investment in next-generation protective equipment. The SX™ HP was chosen over 11 competing products following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed ballistic performance, construction quality and extensive end-user testing for function, fit and comfort, including some of the most demanding ballistic testing protocols in the industry.

“This award represents a major accomplishment for our team and underscores the constant commitment to innovation that remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Brad Williams, President of Cadre Holdings. “After introducing the Safariland SX™ HP ballistic panel in 2025, we are pleased to see broader adoption and enthusiastic feedback from customers that we have engineered one of the thinnest, lightest and most protective hybrid ballistic armor on the market. With best-in-class brands and a steadfast commitment to our life-saving mission, we believe Safariland is well positioned to drive growth over the long term.”

The contract adds to Cadre’s growing pipeline of federal law enforcement business and reflects the company’s strategy of developing highly engineered, mission-critical products that serve demanding end markets with rigorous performance standards and high barriers to entry. Federal agency contracts of this nature are typically characterized by multi-year terms, defined delivery schedules and strong recurring demand driven by equipment modernization cycles.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, LE, Press Release | No Comments »

Battelle Supports the Development and Test of the US Army’s New Hand Grenade

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 27, 2026) – Battelle recently partnered with the U.S. Army Close Combat Systems Program Office to support the Full Material Release (FMR) of the new M111 Offensive Hand Grenade (OHG), the first new offensive hand grenade since 1968.

The M111 was developed over many years of close collaboration between the Army and Battelle to ensure a safe, high-quality, and repeatable manufacturing process. Battelle supported various stages of the development, starting with an initial concept, completing Process Verification Testing (PVT) and executing FMR by prototyping nearly 7,000 grenades and conducting first article and lot acceptance tests.

Battelle and the Army worked closely together over multiple years to refine the technical processes required to improve the grenades’ safety and performance for the warfighter. This new system provides soldiers with a safer alternative to the M67 fragmenting grenade by utilizing a blast over pressure effect, removing fragmenting effects and providing an alternative to better achieve mission success with less risk for fratricide.

“Battelle’s support to the M111 program has enabled the Army to qualify and transition the M111 to full-rate production,” said Sam Knutson, Division Manager forAdvanced Materials and Energetics. “With our unique position as a trusted development partner, we were able to ensure the government is now positioned to meet current and future production needs.”

“Through our work with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armament Center (DEVCOM AC) and customers across the military, Battelle is focused on rapidly advancing innovative solutions that directly benefit the warfighter,” said Dan Pikora, General Manager of Battelle’s National Security Business. “We are excited to continue collaborating with DEVCOM AC to deliver technologies that support mission success.”

Posted in Armor, Press Release, weapons | No Comments »