X-PAC

Archive for the ‘Armor’ Category

FirstSpear Launches

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

In the early hours this morning, like a predawn raid, FirstSpear launched their website. Make sure you check out their new line of products.

Why FirstSpear? We’ve been waiting for months here at SSD to be able to finally tell you.

The Primus Pilus, or First Spear, was the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion.

“Centurions were the guardians of Rome. At the height of the Roman Republic there were over five thousand qualified Roman Centurions in the Legions. To be a Centurion required that, in a mostly illiterate society, one be able to read and write clearly, to be able to convey and create orders, to be capable of not only performing every skill of a Roman soldier but to teach every skill of a Roman soldier. Becoming a Centurion required intense physical ability, courage beyond the norm, years of sacrifice and a total devotion to the philosophy which was Rome.

When Rome fell to barbarian invaders, there were fewer than five hundred qualified Centurions. Not because Rome had fewer people but because it had fewer people willing to make sacrifices.

And the last Centurions left their shields in the heather and took a barbarian bride…..”

www.First-Spear.com

Triad Tactical Offering Deal on Eagle CIRAS

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

SSD readers should not need an introduction to Eagle’s CIRAS and Plate Carriers. The point is that Triad Tactical is holding a great sale on both.


Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System

Plate Carrier with Cummerbund

Carter Awarded Contract for IOTV

Friday, July 1st, 2011

DLA announced earlier this week that Brooklyn, NY-based Carter Enterprises, LLC, was awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum $79,973,119 for improved outer tactical vests (IOTV) and IOTV cable assemblies. Using services are Army and Air Force. The date of performance completion is June 27, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-11-D-1059).

Carter Enterprises gained notoriety in 2009 when they were awarded contracts for the Marine Corps’ IMTV and Plate Carrier.

Vel-Tye Mini Catalog

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Tactical Equipment manufacturer Vel-Tye has been producing gear for local troops for many years here in the Tidewater. Some of their designs such as the Hugger have developed an almost cult-like following. Here is a mini catalog detailing some of their flagship products but it is by no means all inclusive and customization is the name of their game.

Vel-Tye Catalog

www.veltye.com

Mayflower Adds Ranger Green Back to Lineup

Monday, June 13th, 2011

Mayflower recently sent us this announcement:
Due to demand ranger green has been added back to the webstore as a standard color. Due to lack of demand ACU has been removed as an available color. ACU is available for unit/bulk orders of 25 pieces or more. Contact us via info@mayflower-rc.org or the contact page for more information on bulk orders.

Crye Hits the Big Time

Saturday, June 11th, 2011

Sure, Crye Precision is a household name for kit aficionados, but briefing the Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William C Dudley takes you to an entirely different level.

As you can see, camera shy Caleb Crye is brandishing an AirFrame helmet complete with rifle plate.

JIEDDO Helmet Pad Report

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Earlier this year Lawrence Livermore National Lab issued a report on the issue helmet pad’s performance in mitigating impact injuries to the head commissioned by the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and funded partially by the US Army. The main stream media made much of the researcher’s investigation of NFL helmet pads.

According to LLNL, “Five types of pad systems were studied-those currently and previously used by the Army, two used in NFL helmets, and one used in other protective sports equipment. The two Army systems consist of bilayer (hard-soft) foam pads within a water-resistant airtight wrapper or coating. One NFL system consists of a thin foam pad and a hollow air-filled cylinder that buckles under load, and the other is a bilayer foam pad surrounded by a covering with air-relief channels that connect to adjacent pads in the helmet. The fifth pad consists of uniform dense foam.

Researchers Mike King’s and Willy Moss’s conclusion? None of the other pads out perform the current issue pad. In fact, NFL pads are not as soft as military pads, allowing larger forces to be transferred to the head.

Ultimately, the two scientists found that by increasing the thickness of current pads by just 1/8″ would significantly decrease the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury. While this answer sounds simple enough, it raises a serious issue. That extra 1/8″ of padding would require most everyone to go up one helmet size.

Unfortunately, the research was accomplished in support of ACH standards rather than against the energy levels associated with the new Enhanced Combat Helmet (.30) threat. Until this issue can be dealt with the ECH is ultimately just an expensive ACH. As lead service for the ECH program, the USMC has yet to unveil any plans at all on how to deal with the increased kinetic energy associated with the higher caliber threat.

Read the full report here:

LLNL Helmet Pad Report

Velocity Systems and Mayflower Research & Consulting Combine Forces

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Remember the old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials, “Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together”? Well, that’s exactly what has happened here. They’ve been working together for some time and finally decided to make it official.

Velocity Systems has acquired a minority share of Mayflower Research & Consulting, LLC. This acquisition will strengthen their ability to bring high-quality tactical gear to their extremely valued customers. Velocity Systems and Mayflower R&C have had a long-term friendship and a strong professional relationship which has led Velocity Systems to manufacture Mayflower products for the past several years and for them to collaboratively develop products together. The Velocity Systems patent pending SwiftClip® system, which is available on all Velocity and Mayflower vests, allows all of their auxiliary equipment to fit on all platforms, armor vests and plate carriers.

The synergy achieved by this acquisition will result in cutting edge highly-compatible products for the Warfighter. The compatibility and scalability of their products is second to none. Many of their valued customers are already utilizing this compatibility and their goal is to bring you much more of this in the near future. If you look at what they have already achieved together, just imagine what lay ahead. In fact, look for several new product releases from both Velocity Systems and Mayflower in the near future.

www.mayflower-rc.org www.velsyst.com