Archive for the ‘Armor’ Category
BBC Video of New UK Helmet and Armor
Sunday, June 28th, 2009UK Releases New Helmet and Armor
Saturday, June 27th, 2009The enhanced Mark 7 helmet and Osprey Assault body armor, which will provide equivalent ballistic protection to current systems but with a lighter weight and an improved fit were unveiled at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) equipment show this week in Millbrook.
The MOD has ordered over 10,000 sets of the new helmets and armor under initial contracts worth £16m, with companies including NP Aerospace, Morgan Armour Ltd, Aegis Engineering Ltd, Seyntex and Solo International Ltd. The 10,000 sets are reported to go to Infantry, Engineers, and medical with all other general purpose forces retaining the Mk6a helmet and current Osprey armor.
Just as in the case of the MICH becoming the general issue ACH here in the US, the new Mk 7 is a variant of the AC900/600 helmet worn by UKSF on CT role. Of further evidence of SOF influence over kit design, the new armor carrier is supplied by Solo International located near Hereford, home of the British SAS. However, based on information we have received in the past we do not believe that this new equipment is a part of the PECOC program but rather an interim solution to solve an urgent operation requirement. This would also account for the relatively small procurement.
The new Mk 7 helmet features a four point chin strap for enhanced stability, particularly while wearing helmet mounted night vision devices. Additionally, the front lip has been cut back in order to increase visibility while in the prone and is reported to include configurable pads like the US ACH.
While we did say that the new Osprey carrier is being supplied by Solo International, it is interesting to note that they outsource their manufacture. Additionally, the UK does not have an equivalent of the Berry Amendment to ensure domestic production of defense textile articles so at this point we are unsure where the carriers will actually be produced. In addition to the carrier, a new, lighter armor plate is reported to be on it’s way to the troops.
Pictures: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009
Mayflower Adds Armor to Line
Friday, June 19th, 2009Mayflower Research and Consulting LLC in conjunction with Velocity Systems LLC has just released the first of their new Armor Line. The Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier comes with Level III-A soft armor and was created by Mayflower to provide the wearer with a high degree of mobility while still providing an acceptable amount of armor coverage. The adjustable cummerbund has integral pockets for 6″ x 6″ hard armor side plates and is held in place in the front by a wide velcro flap that is wider than a hard plate. The flap also features pull tabs at the corners. The hard plates fit into pockets attached to the outside of the soft armor carrier. While the carrier is not a cutaway design, the shoulder flaps facilitate rapid donning and doffing yet remain secure during wear.
The Level IIIA Soft Armor panels are manufactured by Velocity Systems LLC and are certified to NIJ 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Armor. They also meet or exceed the USASOC Fragmentation requirements and meet or exceed the DEA test protocol.
Manufactured from 500D Cordura the Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier is Berry compliant and available in Coyote Brown, Multicam, and UCP.
The new Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier is available for order now at www.mayflower-rc.com.
SORD Australia NSN List
Friday, May 22nd, 2009Australian gear manufacturer Special Operations Research & Development was founded by former members of the Australian Special Forces community. They have developed an impressive array of products for the individual Soldier. Many of their products have been issued National Stock Numbers by the ADF. The list runs the gamut from radio to dump pouches and armor to ammo carriers.
One product on the list is the Variable Armor Carrier (VAC) and it is currently issued to select Australian Forces. The VAC comes in two styles, a releasable version for water operations and a non releasable version. It holds armor and plates as well as featuring a removable cummerbund (referred to as “Wings”) which can also be armored and also incorporates a drag handle.
See the entire list at www.sordaustralia.com.
Army Tests Releasable Plate Carriers
Friday, May 8th, 2009In February PEO-Soldier officials down selected four companies from a field of sixteen to provide candidates for a releasable plate carrier demonstration. At the time Army officials made it clear that there was no formal program to procure Releasable Plate Carriers. However, over the last two months, it looks like things have changed.
From the four companies (Eagle Industries, KDH Defense Systems Inc, MSA Paraclete, and Tactical Assault Gear), the Army is currently evaluating five carriers at Yuma Proving Ground. Eagle has two carriers under evaluation; the Scalable Plate Carrier, currently issued to select USMC units as well as a variant issued to USSOCOM.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade will wear each of the company’s plate carrier designs while road marching, running through obstacle courses and shooting on live-fire ranges. Army test and evaluation personnel will compare the candidates’ performance against the IOTV without neck and groin protection.
Earlier this month the Army approved a plan to conduct a combat evaluation in Afghanistan of a kit of candidate lightweight combat equipment developed by the Asymmetric Warfare Group in conjunction with industry utilizing a combination of Commercial and Government Off The Shelf products. The approval came weeks after the demonstration was put on hold over questions surrounding safety releases for the Eagle Releasable Carrier and associated armor systems currently used by USSOCOM. Reports indicate that the matter received SECDEF attention. This may explain why Army PM Soldier Survivability is now characterizing the current “Soldier Protection Demonstration” as a more formal procurement activity.
Last Summer, the Marine Corps fielded limited numbers of a Scalable Plate Carrier manufactured by Eagle Industries. Currently, they are testing an “Improved Scalable Plate Carrier”. Based on lessons learned from the initial fielding, the Marine Corps is working to improve the range of motion and mobility in the shoulder area, donning and doffing, and enhanced integration with the cummerbund and side plates.
Army to Field Experimental Soldier Systems Equipment
Saturday, April 25th, 2009Wearing their Rapid Equipping Force hat, The Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group set about to assemble a package of Commercial Off the Shelf Soldier Systems equipment to conduct a demonstration with members of the 4th Infantry Division deploying to Afghanistan. The aim was to demonstrate that these alternative technologies will enhance the combat effectiveness of our troops fighting in the brutal terrain of Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, a long brewing battle between the Army’s Acquisition community and the REF seemed to come to a head two weeks ago when the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology halted the shipment of the equipment package into theater and began to ask some very pointed questions about the capability of the armor package chosen. Long-term friction has come about as the REF continues to conduct rapid identification, assessment, and fielding of critical warfighting technologies while the traditional acquisition system takes a much more methodical approach and fielding of new systems requires longer lead times.
The system in question is the MBAV cutaway plate carrier produced by Eagle Industries used in conjunction with a hard plate only certified for use by USSOCOM. All of this is fully in the Army’s purview and unknown to most sitting on the sidelines of this issue, PEO-Soldier is in the midst of an evaluation of five cut away armor plate carriers. It is highly probable that the cutaway system chosen by AWG is also a candidate in this PEO-Soldier evaluation.
The situation seemed to take on a life of its own and after two weeks of consideration the Army has chosen to field the experimental package and it will be shipped for use by 480 Soldiers across two battalions of the deploying 4th ID. According to Army sources, short notice testing was completed to provide a safety release of the equipment. However, the new lightweight hard armor plates used by SOCOM will be replaced by the Army’s current issue plates.
Data collection will be accomplished by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.
Larry R. Ellis Removed as CEO of Point Blank
Sunday, April 19th, 2009Point Blank Solutions, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors voted to remove Larry R. Ellis as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of April 16, 2009. The Company also announced that James R. Henderson, Chairman of its Board of Directors, has been asked by the Board to assume the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer until a replacement is found. Henderson has been with Point Blank since August of 2008.
“General Ellis and his team helped Point Blank rectify many of the legacy issues the Company has faced while building a strong platform for growth. The Board’s actions are in no way a reflection of General Ellis’ past leadership, but rather a desire to move in a different direction at this time.”
“Point Blank has some of the industry’s most talented people and produces quality, life-saving products for the most important customers in the world. I look forward to taking on the role of CEO and will do everything in my power to help improve our market position, productivity, and our financial performance. Most important, management and the Board will continue to focus on generating higher returns for all shareholders and will pursue all avenues that will help us achieve this shared goal,” Henderson continued.
Reactive Body Armor from SWRI
Monday, March 23rd, 2009South West Research Institute, in effort to further reduce the weight of body armor decided to adapt the reactive armor technology developed for tanks and the design was patented in 2002.
The Reactive Stiffening Armor System is “a reactive armor system that is effective against armor piercing projectiles and lightweight enough to be worn by humans”. It works by delaying the penetrator from fracturing the ceramic plate in the armor. SWRI calculated that delaying a bullet by just three microseconds is enough to increase protection (as measured by the kinetic energy of the bullet) by ten per cent.
The question is, what will it do to the wearer?
To read more visit Wired’s Danger Room.
