After years of R&D in ceramic armor materials and systems, Adept Armor proudly announces an armor plate strong enough to counter today’s AP threats, as well as the AP threats of tomorrow, with the new Colossus™ Armor Plate.
Tulsa, Okla. (March 2022) – Adept Armor, an armor system engineering firm, announces the latest evolution in ceramic armor with the Colossus™ Armor Plate offering protective capabilities beyond Level IV or RF3 plates. The Colossus was designed from the ground up using the most advanced materials available to produce the strongest plate in its category, yet weighing significantly less than the average Level IV or RF3 plate at just over six pounds.
The Colossus was built and tested to VPAM 12 with a ballistic rating for 7.62x51mm Swiss P AP (tungsten core) at 810 m/s. VPAM is the European standard for testing and measurement of ballistic materials and products. Additionally, the Colossus is also rated for:
• VPAM 11 – 7.62x51mm M993 (tungsten core) at 940 m/s
• Level IV (RF3) – .30-06 AP M2 at 880 m/s
• Special threats
• 7..62x54mmR Bf32 API at 860 m/s
• 5.56x45mm M995 at 1000 m/s
• 5.45x39mm AP at 880 m/s
• Similar and lesser threats
The US Army X Threat Small Arms Protective insert plate (XSAPI) designed to VPAM 11 was developed to protect the wearer from an “X-Threat,” most likely the M993 7.62 NATO armor-piercing round. Adept Armor’s new Colossus Armor Plate exceeds the protection offered by the XSAPI plates. The Colossus was specifically designed to thwart tungsten-cored small arms threats.
• The multi-curve Colossus is made from advanced SiC-TiB2 ceramic; Vectran®, a hi-tech liquid crystal polymer fiber known for its high-strength, high heat resistance, and low stretch capabilities; and UHMWPE composite in a thermoplastic wrap. The premium-grade thermoplastic foam on the strike-face offers drop protection, and on the body-side, it serves as an integrated trauma pad. Weighing just 6.5 lbs. in the Shooter’s Cut, the Colossus is only 1.13” in thickness.
Adept Armor’s next-gen, future-proofed, edge-to-edge protection ceramic armor plate, the Colossus is available now in a variety of configurations, and ready to meet todays and tomorrow’s threats. MSRP starts at $640.00 for a 10” x 12” unit.
Interested in armor materials, systems, test methods, and current threats? Check out Adept Armor’s incredible knowledgebase of information and glossary. Learn more about Adept Armor on their new website. Receive a FREE bag and patch, as well as the latest news, offers, and promotions from Adept Armor when you sign up for the newsletter.
Italy’s 4-14 Factory is a relatively new company founded by former Italian SOF.
I am quite impressed with their Adaptive Plate Carrier developed based on mission requirements. It is a modular and scalable system which relies on their CAGES system of Tegris panels. These can be preconfigured and attached to the front and back carriers which carry the armor.
The Adaptive Plate Carrier system consists of:
Front Carrier – Made from Durastretch, it accommodates a wide variety of soft and/or hard armor. It presents a slick appearance.
Back Carrier – Made from Durastretch, it accommodates a wide variety of soft and/or hard armor. It presents a slick appearance.
Harness – It can be used in conjunction with the Front Carrier to suspend the weight of armor. Used while parachuting or when a rear plate isn’t warranted.
Front CAGES – Very easy to attach to Front Carrier. Made from Tegris, it can be configured for a variety of loads.
Back CAGES – Very easy to attach to Back Carrier. Made from Tegris, it can be configured for a variety of loads.
MOLLE Front Flap – PALs compatible, we would call it a placard in the US.
The different components can be used together to create the right configuration for different missions.
Jacksonville, Florida – Safariland® Armor, a brand of The Safariland Group®, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands, announced today that it has released HyperX, a new tactical armor platform featuring in-conjunction armor design resulting in one of Safariland Armor’s lowest profile and lowest weight tactical offerings.
“Safariland prides itself on the life-saving capabilities provided by its armor platforms,” James Duncan, VP/GM of Armor for Safariland said. “HyperX is the latest innovation in tactical armor platforms, underscoring Safariland’s commitment to working with those who depend on protection from our products. In developing HyperX, Safariland worked with Fort Worth SWAT to design a tactical vest that combines protection with more reflexive freedom of movement.”
HyperX’s design is focused on high performing armor designs, combining the SX® and Hardwire® armor panel inserts with the IMPAC® P1 or C1 hard plates. HyperX provides the ultimate in lightweight, compact, and low-profile tactical armor design without compromising ballistic protection. The HyperX’s carrier platform accommodates SAPI plates (from small to extra-large), offering customizable ballistic rifle protection and mobility to meet the specific needs of individual operators.
The HyperX platform is also designed to integrate with communication systems via interior wire openings to prevent wires from tangling. Left and right detachable radio/rifle mag pockets can be positioned behind the cummerbund. Articulated and adjustable shoulders allow for enhanced mobility. Removable closure flaps allow for other closure system placards to be utilized for customized load outs. HyperX’s rear-zip-on MOLLE platforms can be removed while seated in vehicles, and the shock cord adjustable cummerbund allows for an extended range of adjustment that can be precisely placed to the operators’ preference. Combined with a range of available accessories such as ballistic groin, spine, throat, and bicep protection, the HyperX platform offers the ultimate in scalablility.
Posted in Armor, Press Release | Comments Off on Safariland Introduces HyperX Tactical Vest HyperX Combines Maneuverability and Uncompromising Protection
PROJECT7’s Scalable Plate Rack combines some of the best technologies in industry including laser cut Angular Webless MOLLE/PALS load bearing surfaces built from Blue Force Gear Ultracomp and FirstSpear’s Tubes closure system.
It features a streamlined, athletic design to provide full range of motion and allow normal shooting positions. PROJECT7’s “Structured-Texture” shoulder design provides a soft, natural, and high friction shooting platform unencumbered by buckles, straps, external pads, or overlapping armor. The Patent pending, Three-Piece Cummerbund (3PC) design for operator specific sizing, ideal weight bearing, with broad adjustability, and rotational flexibility for unrestrained movement.
They’ve also provided interns cable routing channels and bar tacked anchors for the installation of PROJECT7 ILB Packs and 1PS Single Point Slings.
Additionally, the SPR accepts Upper Arm Protection and Groin & Femoral Protection.
The Scalable Plate Rack is available in Medium, Large, and X-Large platform sizes with eight different cummerbund sizes and offered in the coloring colors:
As we continue to go over the new products launched by MATBOCK at SHOT Show, we go over the CFA Duffle and Berserker v3 Plate Carrier.
CFA Duffle
Finally! A durable and lightweight duffle bag is here! The CFAD duffle easily holds a long weekend’s worth of gear and is made with our extremely durable Ghost Heavy material. This bag easily meets all airline and train requirements for a carry on bag. The Ghost Heavy material will keep your gear dry from inclement weather and is durable enough to resist ripping, punctures and abrasions. 100% made in the USA
Features:
– Made from our Ghost Heavy material for superior puncture, rip, and abrasion-resistance. Ghost Heavy will not absorb water, chemicals, or pathogens and can be sanitized without degradation of the material.
– Large angled zipper gives you access to the entire volume of the bag with ease
– Handles and straps made from MILSPEC webbing. Shoulder strap attached with snap hooks for ease of use and replacement.
Spec:
Dimensions: 58cm L x 30.48cm W x 25cm H / 20 L” x 12 W” x 10 H“
Weights: 0.861826kg / 1.9lbs
Volume: 2379 cu.in. / 39L
Material: Ghost Heavy
Berserker v3 Plate Carrier
It’s here! Introducing the Berserker V3, our lightweight, durable and hydrophobic plate carrier. Made from our Ghost material the Berserker V3 is strong, lightweight, and does not absorb water, sweat, or chemicals-making it ideal for maritime and tropical environments. Additionally, our Ghost material transfers heat away from your body, keeping you cooler and reducing your overall thermal signature. Weighing only 14 ounces, the Berserker V3 comes with everything you need; 5.56 magazine insert, a zipper insert for the kangaroo pouch, dual radio pouches, side armor plate pockets, shoulder pads, and a reinforced drag handle. The Berserker V3 fits a variety of plates due to four way stretch material and comes in a swimmer cut or SAPI / ESAPI version.
Features:
– Customize your carrier to suit your needs via precision laser cut Molle
– Includes a three 5.56 magazine insert and zipper insert for the kangaroo pouch
– 4-way stretch material to allow a variety of plates to fit in the carrier.
– Two sewn-in radio pouches that disperse heat
– Ghost and Ghost Lite can be sanitized without compromising the integrity of the material
NSN: 8470-01-686-0378
MATBOCK Products are handmade to order, so lead times can vary. Please contact orders@matbock.com with questions on current production lead times.
What is ‘blunt force’, and what type of injuries result from blunt force impact?
Please let me answer this question in the shortest possible way, without throwing some hyper intellectual medical terminologies at you, I don’t understand myself. Let me do it in reasonable simple and understandable terms, and more importantly, within context of this article.
Severe injuries and deaths resulting from blunt force trauma are some of the most common cases encountered by forensic pathologists. For instance, almost all transportation fatalities, including those involving road traffic collisions and pedestrians being hit by vehicles result from blunt force trauma.
Blunt force trauma is also the consequence faced by homeland and private security professionals after being hit by a solid object, such as a fist, foot, knee, elbow, iron bar, extendable baton, baseball bat, crowbar, brick, bottle, can, chair, fire extinguisher, to name but a few, or indeed after being pushed hard against another solid object e.g. door, wall, floor or car or down a flight of stairs etc.
Something that remains widely underreported since shootings and stabbings seem to make more dramatic headlines in the mainstream media.
When asking a couple of law firms how they would define ‘blunt force trauma injuries’ they responded with the following answers:
“A severe traumatic episode caused to the body (or head) with the sudden introduction of a blunt instrument used with great force.”
“Blunt force trauma is when the body is hit with an object that is blunt, or not sharp, with enough force to cause significant damage”.
According to Wikipedia, blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) comprises 75% of all blunt trauma and is the most common example of this injury.
The severity of such injury is mostly determined by the speed, velocity, size and weight of the object, and can range in severity from a tiny bruise to internal haemorrhages, bone fractures, cardiac tamponade, airway obstructions/rupture, and in the worst-case scenario result in ruptured organs, rapid internal bleeding and ultimately your death.
I do believe most security professionals will be aware of the potential severity of injuries resulting from blunt force. But I don’t believe many will chose to document and report every incident of this nature. “Too much admin”, some may say, and “it’s part of the job”, others will state.
Many security professionals have a reasonable understanding of the most realistic risks and threats they face, and subsequently are either being issued, or they themselves invest in body armour.
However, it is worth noting that any type of flexible body armour made from either an aramid fibre (i.e. Kevlar®) or a polyethylene (i.e. Dyneema®) including the latest high performance body armour produced by top secret manufacturers at top secret locations for top secret agencies, do not offer anywhere near enough protection from this specific operational risk.
On a domestic level (meaning homeland or private security, rather than military) the risk of being punched, beaten, kicked, or faced by someone throwing stuff at you is hundred times higher than being stabbed or shot. Therefore, it is rather saddening to see that more than 99% of body armour issued to domestic homeland security professionals offer insufficient protection from this specific risk.
Again, in the context of a good body armour, the key objective must be to offer sufficient levels of protection from the most realistic threats and risks you faces whilst on duty.
I urge you to make a conscious decision when investing in such type of PPE. Simply ask yourself the question, what is the most important criteria for YOU? The concealability, the weight, the thickness, or the level of protection from the risks and threats you have identified?
If the concealability of a body armour is key for you (i.e. covert operations and surveillance) then you may well need to look for the thinnest body armour, and the ‘blunt force trauma’ protection may have to become of secondary importance.
However, please understand that in general the most likely risk you face on a daily basis, is also the one you should seek protection from, and as I have stated earlier on in this article, the probability of you getting punched, hit, kicked or pushed around or have someone throwing stuff at you is far greater than the risk of being stabbed or shot.
To achieve the maximum level of protection from blunt force trauma injuries a body armour would have to be of a rigid structure, rather than a soft/flexible structure. Two diverse protective devices which highlight in a brilliantly understandable way the importance and the effectiveness of such protection are:
1. Motorbike Helmets: Never mind the fact that wearing a helmet is law when riding a motorbike. Wearing a helmet during a motorcycle crash significantly reduces the risk of damage to one’s skull, traumatic brain injury, and even death, countless studies have shown. We all know motorbike helmets are of a rigid/solid structure. They would not offer the blunt force protection and perform to the level it is required if the structure would be soft or flexible.
2. Riot Shields: A riot shield is a lightweight protection device, typically deployed and used by police in almost every country during riots, protests and mass disturbances. They are typically constructed from a rigid material to offer maximum levels of protection from attacks with blunt weapons and thrown projectiles. The officers’ lives depend on the performance of this piece of equipment. Again, to offer this high level of blunt force protection, it is required for its structure to be rigid, not soft or flexible.
The most in-depth research study on ‘blunt force trauma injuries’ or in more tactical terms ‘backface signature injuries’ sustained while wearing such body armour was produced by Marianne Wilhelm back in 2008, and is titled “Injuries to law enforcement officers: The backface signature injury”. It really is worth a read.
This great piece has raised important questions regarding the protection afforded to officers wearing personal body armour, along with the current test methods used to assess the true performance of the equipment. Some test results showed that some revealed deformations exceeding the NIJ Standard’s backface signature limit. Such increased deformation can lead to serious injuries, including blunt force trauma or backface signature injuries, which have occurred in the field over and over again.
Although your body armour might be successful in containing the round fired by a weapon or the knife thrusted at you by a hostile individual, it might not protect you from the impacting energy during other types of assaults, unless it is offering you officially certified protection from this precise risk. The most respected standard for body armour in relation to blunt force trauma protection is Germany’s VPAM (Vereinigung der Prüfstellen für Angriffshemmende Materialien und Konstruktionen) Standard, titled: “Testing of Impact Resistance against Throwing and/or Striking Objects” and its rating will be W1 (lowest) – W9 (highest).
It is also worth pointing out that our Technical Director Colin Mackinnon, a man who served 26+ years with the UK’s Police Forces, delivered an online presentation to a large audience of security professionals recently. Following his presentation, he asked a question: “Does your armour protect against knife, spike, needle, and blunt force trauma?”
Out of those questioned 55% of people did not know what protection their vests provided.
About the Author
Robert Kaiser is the CEO and Founder of PPSS Group, a UK headquartered company specialising in design, production, and supply of high-performance body armour. Robert and his senior team all have significant level of operational frontline experience in military, law enforcement or homeland security. His written word has been featured in several industry leading, international publications.
Posted in Armor, Guest Post, Medical | Comments Off on Blunt Force: The Underreported Threat Of The Security Professional
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments Collaborative Research Alliance, or MEDE CRA, culminated its 10-year program with a virtual capstone event, co-hosted by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory and Johns Hopkins University.
More than 180 people participated in the event, including principal investigators, students from consortium universities, Army researchers and industry partners. Representatives from U.S. Army Futures Command, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, Office of Naval Research, National Ground Intelligence Center, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and other DEVCOM subordinate organizations participated as well.
The alliance is a basic research program led by Johns Hopkins University, which includes a consortium of 25 university and research partners located in 13 states and three foreign countries. MEDE has developed a materials-by-design strategy, which has resulted in innovative protection materials and computational design codes for armor applications. These new concepts will support the Soldier Lethality and Next Generation Combat Vehicle modernization priorities. According to DEVCOM ARL Director Dr. Patrick Baker, MEDE successfully achieved its mission by focusing on the three key elements of a basic research program: relevance, team, and science.
Maj. Gen. Edmond “Miles” Brown, DEVCOM commanding general, highlighted the capstone with a keynote address. He described a multinational force that was attacked while on patrol during a deployment to Afghanistan. The body armor they wore provided the necessary protection to survive the attack and make it back home safely. Additionally, Brown described the evolution of body armor from the time he entered the U.S. Army to present day, and the importance of basic research programs like the MEDE CRA.
Sen. Ben Cardin and Sen. Christopher Van Hollen of Maryland expressed their congratulations to the MEDE CRA. Cardin noted that MEDE has graduated 76 Ph.D. students and transitioned 55 postdoctoral fellows. More than 200 undergraduates participated in research activities; 62 of whom were from HBCUs and minority serving institutions. This highlights the program’s real dedication to inclusivity and diversity, he said. Van Hollen added that MEDE will help save American lives and keep troops safer for years to come.
Officials said a hallmark of the MEDE CRA is its impact on workforce development. Including the university faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and DEVCOM ARL researchers, over 600 individuals have been involved in the MEDE research. These individuals include high school and undergraduate student apprentices sponsored through DEVCOM’s Army Educational Outreach Program, and the Army Research Office’s partnered research initiative for HBCUs and minority serving institutions. The MEDE CRA ensured these valuable opportunities were incorporated into the core research program.
Prof. Lori Graham-Brady of Johns Hopkins and Dr. Sikhanda Satapathy, DEVCOM ARL, presented the numerous accomplishments of the MEDE CRA. According to Satapathy, the goal of the program was to look at the materials or different material classes at different scales, starting from the atomistic scale to the application scale. To achieve this, the MEDE program developed a rigorous mechanism-driven materials-by-design strategy that resulted in new magnesium alloys, boron carbide, and glass-epoxy composites.
In each material, MEDE was able to achieve a weight reduction and improved performance. These discoveries were translated into computational design codes which assisted in validating the experimental data. Industry partners were able to scale-up the laboratory produced materials for ballistic evaluation at DEVCOM ARL.
Graham-Brady said by improving these armor materials they will have a real impact on keeping people safe, which, she said, motivated much of the research.
The capstone included a MEDE CRA video, which provided an overview and successes of the program.
Awarded in April of 2012, the Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments (MEDE) collaborative research alliance is a ten-year, basic research program which has developed a materials by design process which has improved protection materials for armor applications. Research activities were performed jointly amongst academia, the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and industry.
This video highlights the tangible successes of the program.
Funding for MEDE created a center within HEMI. For more information, visit hemi.jhu.edu/cmede.
The impact of MEDE to the broader science community will be felt for years, Graham-Brady said. To date, MEDE university personnel and DEVCOM ARL researchers have authored 478 peer-reviewed journal articles. These articles have been cited over 8,000 times. To ensure the legacy of the MEDE CRA, special edition journals featuring MEDE research have been published.
Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Army for sponsoring the MEDE CRA. Johns Hopkins’ partnership with the Department of Defense was seeded in 1940 with the creation of the National Defense Research Committee. MEDE’s innovations will continue to shape the future of the government-university research through the doctoral students and postdocs now working in DOD and national laboratories, academia and global industry.
As the Army’s foundational research laboratory, ARL is operationalizing science to achieve transformational overmatch. Through collaboration across the command’s core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more successful at winning the nation’s wars and come home safely. DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the Army Futures Command.
By Dr. Victor Nakano, Johns Hopkins University
Photos by Jessica Ader, David Jordan, and Will Kirk
Posted in Armor, Army, Guest Post, Research | Comments Off on Consortium Partnered with Army Research Lab Completes 10-year Program to Advance Armor Materials
New for 2022! Strandhogg V3 features a new integral zipper admin pocket, top loop placard on front and back. It also features an instant adjust back panel. This carrier can be used with a variety of cummerbunds.
