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KDH Does It Again

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Like the little engine that could, KDH wins yet another armor contract. This time for 57,000 plate carriers. So this makes IOTV, IMTV/PC, and now the Army’s Plate Carrier all at the same time. Not bad for a small business. I wonder how they are getting it all done. They have opened a new factory in Eden, North Carolina that is according to recent visitors, only at half capacity. Unfortunately, the real issue with capacity these days isn’t floor space or number of machines but rather human capital. Finding qualified, experienced sewers and other textile workers even in areas where plants have closed in the past is extremely difficult.

Lots of conjecture on the web about how KDH continues to win contracts but quite honestly, it probably has a lot to do with price. Estimates indicate that KDH probably offered the plate carriers to the Army at just over $300 a pop with soft armor based on the number of vests and the amount of the award. That is about half what other companies were seeking.

Interestingly, the Army handled this procurement through GSA and this is the first time that they have used GSA to purchase armor due to concerns over ballistic ratings. Additionally, the GSA solicitation was open for a fairly short window and in spite of a requirement during Soldier Protection Demonstration VII that the carriers be releasable, the GSA solicitation dropped it altogether yet they retained the 9 lbs weight threshold associated with a heavier cut-away system. Of course, neither SOCOM nor the Marines have a cut-away plate carrier system. But these oddball requirements meant that companies that did not meet the requirements for inclusion in SPD VII were able to bid on the plate carriers through GSA.

KDH lists their Soldier Plate Carrier with Quick Release System on their GSA website for $439.29 so we are unsure if they bid that at a discount via GSA or a non-releasable system. According to the description of their vest it “Includes OTV/IOTV Specification(FQ/PD 07-05 Latest Rev. CO/PD 00-02 Latest Rev.) Lvl IIIA Equivalent Soft Ballistc Inserts and Integrated Side Plate Pouches. Also available with NIJ Specifica”.

Tags: KDH
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Tactical Tailor Low Profile Armor Carrier

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The Tactical Tailor is revamping much of their line in addition to launching new items. The Low Profile Armor Carrier (L.P.A.C.) is just such a product. The slim and lightweight design of the LPAC was envisioned for those needing to don and remove their vest quickly or those needing the option of soft ballistic armor and hard plates without the extra weight of a larger tactical vest. The LPAC features Tactical Tailor’s safety features such as side entry system which ensures proper vest positioning for maximum protection as well as providing for quick vest removal in emergency situations.

Constructed from 1000D Cordura, the LPAC features padded shoulder straps with integrated microphone epaulets and a heavy duty drag handle. Internal pockets accommodate standard size plates as well as soft armor from most ballistic vests up to 17″ x 24″ front and 18″ x 22″ rear for Large/X-Large and 14â€ x 21â€ front and 16â€ x 20â€ rear for Small/Medium. Modular webbing on all sides allows for nearly unlimited options for attachment of MOLLE/PALS style equipment to meet almost any mission requirement. What’s more, the LPAC weighs in at an astounding 1.25 pounds empty.

Berry Compliant and available in Available in Black, Coyote Brown, Olive Drab and MultiCam from Tactical Tailor and their network of dealers.

Tags: Tactical Tailor
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The Tactical Assault Panel

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Many of you noticed a reference to the Tactical Assault Panel or TAP being issued to the Afghanistan camouflage test battalions.

Here is a little bit of background on this developmental item.

The bib-like TAP is a product improvement that attaches to the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) or Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) giving Soldiers the ability to attach Modular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment (MOLLE) basic fighting load pouches to the TAP, as opposed to directly to the IOTV or OTV. It is easily donned and doffed allowing the Soldier to quickly reduce the girth of his load by removing the TAP from his armor.

The intent is to issue the TAP in addition to or in lieu of the Fighting Load Carrier once an assessment has been completed. An in-theater User Evaluation began in 4QFY09 and PEO-Soldier will be making adjustments to the TAP based on that feedback.

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New British Helmet and Armor on Way to Afghanistan

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

According to an article published in Sunday’s edition of the “Daily Mail”, the new Osprey assault armor and Mk 7 helmet have been shipped to Afghanistan for use by the 11th Brigade just beginning a six-month deployment.

This photo published in the “Daily Mail” shows the new helmet’s camouflage cover. It will be interesting to see if this is just a prototype or will see general issue as it forgoes the sewn-in foliage bands found on the cover for the Mk 6 helmet.

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Shellback Tactical Armor/Plate Carrier Sneak Peek

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Still in the prototype phase, the AGGRESSOR LE Armor/Plate Carrier from Shellback Tactical challenges the status quo in Law Enforcement armor. Traditionally, officers have worn concealable cut armor under their uniforms. However, this trend is beginning to shift to an externally worn vest, particularly on the East coast and in areas with high humidity. In order to answer calls from the field for an external armor carrier, Shellback developed the AGGRESSOR. While the concept of an external vest has been used by the military for decades, Shellback wanted to design something specifically with the needs of Law Enforcement Officers in mind.

One item that really makes this vest stand out is that the badge can be pinned directly to the chest just like on a uniform. This design also allows an officer the flexibility to take the vest off inside the station when completing reports or booking evidence. The design makes it just as easy to don quickly if need be. As an added bonus, several agencies have also found external vests as a cost effective option when they want their officers to also have a tactical type vest at the ready since the armor can be put into this as a secondary carrier rather than having to buy a whole second set of armor with the vest. Finally, with all of these features, the AGGRESSOR can also be used for SWAT and other tactical operations.

The carrier is constructed from 500 Cordura which was selected in order to help lighten the load on an officer who often works a 12 hour shift. The collar area is covered in non-slip material to assist with shouldering firearms and to keep slings and bags from slipping off. Below the non-slip is a two inch wide strip of Velcro for identification patches. As stated earlier, the AGGRESSOR also features grommets to display the Officer’s badge. Additionally, the lower portion of the carrier has PALS webbing which wraps all the way around the body of the vest to accommodate modular pouches. The rear of the vest features a four inch velcro strip across the back for ID patches. The fully adjustable shoulders are padded with foam and the entire carrier is lined with mesh for breathability. As you can see from the photo this mesh also extends around the edge of the arm hole for comfort.

Designed to carry soft armor, the AGGRESSOR also features interior front and rear pockets to hold full size rifle plates. As of yet, there is no info on which soft armor and plates will be accommodated.

Shellback Tactical tells us the new carrier will be available in about six weeks and should retail for under $200. It will be Made in the USA by TAG and feature a Lifetime Warranty. Look for it at www.shellbacktactical.com.

Tags: Shellback Tactical
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Eagle Awarded SPC Contract

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

The Marine Corps has awarded ATK’s Eagle Industries business unit a $20 million contract for further deliveries of the Scalable Plate Carrier. Reports of the order do not specify the number of SPCs but they are to be delivered by January 2010. This order combined with the recent sub-contract for deliveries of the IOTV to the Army make the still unresolved Army Releasable Plate Carrier award even more interesting. Already competitors KDH and Eagle had their hands full with the smaller IOTV order and now Eagle has a further order for the Marine SPC. According to early announcements, the Releasable Plate Carrier was supposed to have begun fielding this month. This leaves both Tactical Assault Gear and MSA/Paraclete with ample production capacity. In particular MSA/Paraclete may be feeling the crunch as they did not receive a piece of either of the IOTV contracts.

Tags: Eagle Industries, KDH, MSA/Paraclete, Releasable Plate Carrier, Scalable Plate Carrier, TAG
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Point Blank Awarded IOTV Contract

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Apparently, the BIG one has been awarded. Almost prematurely ahead of any formal Army announcement Point Blank Body Armor, Inc. issued a press release late yesterday declaring that they have been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the US Army REDCOM Acquisition Center. This is for an as yet undisclosed portion of the production of up to 736,000 Improved Outer Tactical Vests and 253,000 Deltoid and Axillary Protection Systems (“DAPS”) under the “IOTV Main Buy” – Solicitation W91CRB-07-0079.

This award comes on the heels of a much smaller award in July for 65,000 IOTVs to fill an immediate need. Repeated delays of the “IOTV Main Buy” award have hit the armor industry hard, forcing layoffs so it will be welcomed as a sign of a longer-term turn around for that industry.

Jim Henderson, Acting CEO of Point Blank Solutions stated, “This is a major milestone for our Company as we believe we are one of only a few companies that can produce the IOTV and DAPS for the US Army over the next five years. We have been a chosen provider of the US Armed Forces for years and look forward to continuing to meet their requirements. While no additional awards have been made and competition continues to be fierce, we are confident that the steps we have and continue to take to improve our operations and manufacturing capabilities will position us as the best value, low cost provider in the industry.”

“The recognition and faith bestowed by the Army also reinforces our industry position as a leading, ballistics provider and should add incremental value for our Company and our shareholders,” Henderson concluded.

Once the formal Government announcement comes we will update this story as according to Point Blank’s own press release, they have been selected as a “chosen supplier” indicating that others may also be awarded.

Tags: IOTV, Point Blank
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Australian Diggers in Afghanistan Get New Armor Plates

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Australian ABC News is reporting that Australian forces operating in Afghanistan as members of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force will receive new, lighter armor plates as part of an effort to enhance the modularity of Australian armor systems.

Photo ADF

Download the video report here.

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