Tactical Tailor

Archive for the ‘Armor’ Category

NP Aerospace Body Armor Awarded NIJ 0101.06 Compliance

Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

Global armor manufacturer, NP Aerospace, has been awarded Notification of Compliance from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for two of its Level III+ Lightweight Body Armor Plates.

The LASA LWB III+ IC06 Lightweight Buoyant Hard Armour Plate and LASA LWA III+ 109 IC06 Lightweight Hard Armor Plate are both now certified to NIJ 0101.06 by the governing body that oversees performance standards and testing for ballistic armor. Both have been certified in conjunction with soft armor.

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, comments: “Body armor plates are critical to protecting our military and law enforcement personnel and therefore the way we undertake our ballistic testing is central to our manufacturing processes and something we take very seriously. Having NIJ compliance for our Level III+ plates is part of a bigger strategy to grow our law enforcement business in North America. It allows us to take our well-established military products into a sector which is demanding increased levels of protection.”

 

The LWB III+ IC06 plate delivers ultra-lightweight multi-hit protection against NIJ Level III and special threats and is positively buoyant. The LWA III+ 109 IC06 plate also stops ‘Green Tip’ SS109 ammunition.

To find out more visit www.npaerospace.com

Point Blank Vest Saves New York City Police Officer

Thursday, October 31st, 2019

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New York City Police Officer Christopher Wintermute responded to a call reference a man acting suspiciously and armed shortly after midnight on October 23rd, 2019. Officer Wintermute was shot in the chest and was saved by his body armor produced by Point Blank Enterprises. Officer Wintermute was treated and released. The body armor credited with the Save is the Alpha Elite series AXIIIA manufactured by Point Blank and issued to Officer Wintermute on November 16, 2017.

New York City Police Department is the largest police department in the world and Point Blank Enterprises has been the contract vendor for concealable and tactical body armor to the New York Police Department since June 9, 2011 and has supplied over 50,000 vests. The Point Blank Alpha Elite series is the most popular model of body armor worn by law enforcement in the country today, including Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, Orlando, San Antonio Police Department’s just to name a few in addition to several Federal law enforcement agencies.

Point Blank Enterprises CEO Daniel Gaston stated, “We are honored to provide personal protection equipment to the Officers of New York City Police Department and over half the other law enforcement agencies in America today. Over 200 law enforcement officers have been shot this year and we have had a record number of Saves, providing a daily reminder why our commitment to protect our first responders is so important.”

www.pointblankenterprises.com

Next-Generation Bomb Suit Lightens Load for Marines

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marines will soon receive a lighter and more capable bomb suit for protection against various threats.

Fielding in 2020, the EOD Advanced Bomb Suit incorporates several 21st century, next-generation technological advancements intended to help EOD Marines withstand arduous conditions on the battlefield.

The system protects against severe injuries caused by blast overpressure, shrapnel, heat and impacts. The suit also comprises an elaborate integrated ventilation system to reduce heat stress and improve breathing.

“The new EOD bomb suit provides the warfighter with additional protection and flexibility,” said Fernando Pena, Marine Corps Systems Command’s project officer for the suit. “It is a superior suit compared with the previous system.”

In 2014, the Corps fielded an innovative bomb suit that has provided protection to the warfighter. However, because threats are ever-evolving, the need to find new ways to safeguard EOD Marines is paramount in carrying out missions and defeating adversaries.

Master Sgt. Zachariah Kindvall, an MCSC subject matter expert for the EOD bomb suit, says the new system helps meet the warfighter’s ever-changing needs.

“The new EOD bomb suit will add another level of personal protection equipment for Marines to use,” said Kindvall. “It provides a higher level of protection than what we currently have.”

The EOD suit meets or exceeds the performance and characteristics of the legacy system. For example, the newer system has a more ergonomic design, offers superior overall balanced protection, and provides greater situational awareness and operational capabilities, said Pena.

Kindvall noted how the suit offers more comfort, reducing the risk of fatigue. He said engineers emphasized the design and fitting of the suit, making it easier for the warfighter to maneuver. The clothing is also easier to don and doff compared with the previous system.

“The foot protection, in particular, is much easier to walk in and provides much more comfort and protection,” said Kindvall.

Additionally, the suit is significantly lighter than its older counterpart—a characteristic of the system Kindvall says can help Marines. Lightening the warfighter’s load is important because too much gear can wear on the warfighter. The new bomb suit reduces weight while also enhancing protection and communication.

“Lightening the load gives Marines more flexibility during missions—even if it is just a reduction of a few pounds,” said Kindvall. “That weight reduction can be significant.”

Both Pena and Kindvall are confident the system will be advantageous on the battlefield. As Pena explained, the warfighter can investigate and perform render-safe procedures involving an improvised explosive device knowing the suit’s added stability can protect them from serious impact and other hazards.

“We as a program office must be proactive in understanding the dynamic changes of today’s threats as well as future threats,” said Pena. “The new EOD bomb suit helps to support this idea.”

By Matt Gonzales, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | Marine Corps Systems Command

DEVCORE Plate Carrier Backpack Up for Pre-Order

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019

Developmental Warfighter Gear PCB sets new standard for “low-pro”

For Immediate Release

DEVCORE Gear is happy to announce that its PCB (Plate Carrier Backpack) is now available for pre-order, with fulfillment to begin during early November. The PCB is not just another “bulletproof backpack” or armored backpack with soft armor panels stowed inside. It is a rapidly deployable, fully modular plate carrier concealed within a sturdy, well-designed, but innocuous backpack. In short, it’s legitimately “lowpro”.

 

In addition to housing a front and back hard-armor plate carrier, the BCB is perfectly capable of concealing SBRs, PDWs, AR15 pistols and the like and allowing their deployment on demand. This isn’t an SBR bag used to stow a weapon for transit. This pack maintains the weapons in a ready status so they can be produced and presented quickly at need.

Soldier Systems Daily readers may enter SSD25 at checkout to receive a 25% discount on their purchase.

As you can see, the wearer can go from backpack to armed up and pistol ready in just a couple of seconds. Readying a long gun requires less than another couple of seconds. This makes it a superb option for lowpro and low visibility work in semi- or non-permissive environments. It would also serve well in those situations where it’s better to remain low key and prepared vs. “jocked up” and ready. Such operations might include surveillance, hiding “in plain sight” in a crowd during high profile events, pre-positioned support elements of PSD personnel, and similar mission sets.

The pack would also obviously be an excellent way to keep active shooter response kit on standby or as the primary holdall for bail-out bags, bug-out bags, and get-home kits.

DEVCORE will not ship ballistic armor OCONUS.

Current inserts include:
IFAK module (medical kit insert)
Admin Pouch (utility insert)
Chest holster (PCB plate carrier holster module)
Covert rifle case (long gun weapon module)

FEATURES
? Rapid deployment armor system is interchangeable for armored protection with either soft IIIA armor or hard armor plates
? Front and back armor is concealed within hidden backpack compartment until it’s deployed
? Bottom concealed compartment has a quick release pull handle for rapid deployment of various inserts such as the DEVCORE Medic Kit, DEVCORE Utility Kit and other custom inserts coming soon.
? Full zipper front main compartment with interior Velcro panel to secure various pouches and accessories for storage and transport
? Front zippered slash pocket to stow personal items such wallet, phone and other smaller items
? Padded exterior back panel for comfort fit
? Padded low profile adjustable shoulder straps
? Slim comfort adjustable waist belt with exterior lined Velcro to secure deployed front armor carrier to front torso
? Adjustable quick-release chest strap to stabilize backpack when in use
? Hidden document compartment accessed behind waist belt connections on back exterior panel

PRODUCTS SPECS
? Backpack built from 1000D Ballistic Nylon
? YKK zippers throughout
? Large Velcro panels
? Breathable mesh padding 
? Main Backpack Dimensions: 20 in. L x 13.5 in.  W x 7 in.  D 
? Middle Concealed Compartment Dimensions: 1 in. L x 12 in. W x 2 in. D
? Back Armor Insert Pocket: 14.75 in. L x 11 in. W x .75in. D
? Weight, backpack only with empty carrier: 7 lbs.
? Weight with front & back level IIIA Soft Armor Panels: 10 lbs.
? Weight with front & back Hard Armor Panels: 13 lbs.
? Proudly made in the USA

Learn more: www.devcoregear.com; take a look at what believe to be the best tactical pen around while you’re there.

Contact Brian Miller: contact@abxgroupinc.com

HRT – RAC Plate Carrier

Saturday, October 19th, 2019

HRT, an Ohio based company, has just released a revolutionary RAC™ plate carrier system featuring the industry’s first highly modular MultiZip™ back panel system. Originally a tactical training- company, HRT saw the need for a rapid-reconfigurable gear carrying system.  Unable to find any industry solution, HRT decided to make their own. “We feel we have a natural advantage in the gear industry. Not only do we distribute our own products, each piece of HRT gear was conceived from true real-world experience, and fine-tuned through routine training exercises, furthermore, the RAC’s modular nature allows us to stay competitive and deliver innovative new accessories in an ever-changing industry.” The HRT RAC™ was vigorously tested by Law Enforcement and Military communities alike prior to its release.

The RAC™ plate carrier is based on HRT’s proven HRAC plate carrier, with the addition of the innovative MultiZip™ dual-zipper back panel attachment system.  Allowing weight saving by only using mission essential gear, the dual zipper design gives users the ability to quickly re-configure the top and bottom of the rear plate pocket independently of each other, while also accepting full-length panels for large items such as rain gear, helmets or breaching tools.

The RAC™ itself is light weight and fully adjustable with comfortable low-profile shoulder straps and optional cummerbunds. The RAC™ is also quality from the ground up: from the Teflon-coated genuine Cordura, to Velcro-branded hook and loop, using ITW buckles and YKK Zippers, just to name a few. Aside from what the customer can see, all HRT carriers feature reinforced stitching, heavy nylon-bonded threads, quality sewing, and proper bar tacking. All HRT products come with an industry-leading LIFETIME warranty.

Like the HRAC, the front of HRT’s RAC™ plate carrier accepts all HRT placards including the highly anticipated Maximus placard designed by Army Ranger hall-of-famer MSG (ret) Howard “Max” Mullen Jr. The RAC™ is also compatible with various other placards from leading industry gear designers, ensuring future expansion as our nation’s threats continue to shift.

www.hrttacticalgear.com

Saber Solutions LLC AVS JPC Tubes Cummerbund Conversion Kit

Friday, October 18th, 2019

The Tubes Cummerbund Conversion Kit brings quick donn and doff capabilities, elimination of noise and wear from Velcro® panels, and consistent cummerbund placement to the AVS™ and original JPC™ plate carriers.

Through the use of our conversion kit, all modifications can be completed by the end-user without the lead-time associated with a custom shop. This allows for minimum down-time and the ability for the operator to fine-tune the system to their liking with varying placement and configurations.

Additional benefits include reduced gap between cummerbund and front plate pocket for ideal pouch placement, retaining side plate pouch compatibility, and a low-profile, seamless form factor. Now available and ready to ship in Black, Ranger Green, Coyote Brown, and Multicam.

sabersolutionsllc.net

It’s Finally Here! The FLEX Releasable Cummerbund Kit IOTV (FRC Kit IOTV) from Arbor Arms

Tuesday, October 15th, 2019

Arbor Arms has adapted their FLEX Cummerbund retro fit kits to the Army’s IOTV4, SPCS, MSV and many other armor systems that utilize the Duraflex Quad release system.   The Arbor Arms family of cummerbunds are in use with a wide range of units; US, British and other NATO Special Forces, Marine Force Reconnaissance, DEA SRT, CBP Special Teams.  Although many Arbor Arms designs are geared towards the high end this cummerbund kits marks a move towards improving armor ergonomics for the average Soldier on the line. 

The Cummerbund

Arbor Arms FLEX cummerbunds are a skeletonized 3 MOLLE row cummerbund, made of their proprietary slotted MOLLE elastic.    This allows for expansion and contraction not just through the full breathing cycle but during movement and non-standard shooting positions.  At the same time it can support a full combat load of magazines, radios and side SAPIs without allowing them to sag or bounce on ones hips while running.  It also allows for perfect ergonomic fit to every soldier male or female of every size and body type.    Due to the proprietary manufacturing process this elastic is woven with the MOLLE slots in it which gives I a much longer service life than sewn elastic while maintaining the ability to mount MOLLE pouches both internally and externally to the cummerbund. 

The Front

The FRC Kit IOTV used the Duraflex  Quad Release 1.5” female buckle sewn to an 70 series aluminum spreader bar that interfaces with their proprietary slotted MOLLE elastic.    The aluminum spreader features split bar attachment so that the elastic can be changed out by the end user in case of damage while in the field.

The Back

The kit comes with 3 rear mounting options; a MOLLE stick Interface for the IOTV which is compatible with either a 550 cord lacing, or with 6 Snap On Tension locks.   The 6 Snap On Tension locks can also be attached directly to the lowest 3 MOLLE rows on the rear plate bag with the excess elastic of the cummerbund routed under the c-bun flap.

Learn more about the FRC kit IOTV and the rest of the Arbor Arms family of cummerbunds at www.ArborArmsUSA.com/army-iotv

 

Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble

Saturday, October 12th, 2019

The Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble Advanced Technology Demonstration was conducted in the fall of 1992 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

These photos of SIPE components were taken by Natick Research, Development, and Engineering Center.

Download the report here.