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The Newest Addition of 3M Ballistic Helmets: 3M Ballistic Helmet F70 Allows for Flexibility of Use in Multiple Operational Environments

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

Configurable helmet designed for broad use from combat operations to law enforcement

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Oct. 8, 2018 – Military and police forces across the world require cutting-edge protection to match an ever-evolving range of operational environments. Ceradyne, Inc., a 3M company, designed the new

3M Ballistic Helmet F70 for maximum flexibility of use in military combat missions, special forces operations and law enforcement tactical operations. The helmet leverages 3M expertise to deliver its high level of protection for its low weight.

The 3M Ballistic Helmet F70 provides a unique combination of ballistic performance, low weight, modular system design and optimized geometry. The helmet comes in both high cut and mid cut (full coverage) versions and offers an optional ballistic mandible and ballistic visor. The helmet geometry is engineered for improved coverage of critical areas and increased stability and comfort.

Unlike conventional helmet designs, the no thru-hole design eliminates weak spots in the ballistic shell by removing thru-holes for the night vision device shroud, retention system and rails. With this state-of-the-art design, bolts can no longer become secondary projectiles during a ballistic event.

“Every detail matters when it comes to protecting those who serve their countries and communities, and that’s why we continually develop advanced solutions like the 3M Ballistic Helmet F70,” said Terry Griffith, defense business manager, 3M Advanced Materials Division. “We ensure our designs use the highest standards for compliance-driven manufacturing that have earned 3M a reputation our customers can trust. Everything we do is driven by a deep passion to help military and law enforcement stay safe as they work to achieve their vital objectives.”

The 3M Ballistic Helmet F70 meets or exceeds all commonly specified Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) requirements for ballistic fragmentation and bump protection and meets NIJ IIIA ballistic penetration protection standards. It provides V50 fragmentation protection against 17 grain (.22 caliber) FSP at greater than 2,750 feet per second (greater than 840 meters per second) when tested in accordance with NATO STANAG 2920. The ballistic shell weight is 1.68 pounds (770 grams) in the high cut version and 1.91 pounds (870 grams) in the mid cut version.

The Air Force Test Parachute Program (TPP) also conducted an evaluation of the 3M Ballistic Helmet F70 and determined it to be suitable for Air Force static line and military free fall operations.

Each F70 helmet comes with reverse dovetail rails that accept common industry accessories. Optional accessories designed for the helmet include ballistic mandibles, visors, helmet covers, over ear ballistic protection (high cut) and counterweights. In addition, the helmet works seamlessly with 3M PELTOR communications and hearing protection solutions.

3M will debut the helmet at booth 7741 at the AUSA 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 8-10, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The helmet will be available for sale in December 2018.

For more information about soldier protection solutions provided by 3M, visit www.3M.com/Defense.

Tags: 3M
Posted in Armor, AUSA, Helmets, Press Release | Comments Off on The Newest Addition of 3M Ballistic Helmets: 3M Ballistic Helmet F70 Allows for Flexibility of Use in Multiple Operational Environments

AUSA 18 – MT3 Ballistic Shield by TYR Tactical

Monday, October 8th, 2018

TYR Tactical has unveiled their new ballistic shield system. It consists of a shield, dolly and ballistic appliqué.

See it on booth #3647.

Posted in Advertiser, Armor, AUSA | 6 Comments »

USMC Announces Industry Day For Low Intensity Threat Environment (LITE) Armor Plate

Saturday, September 29th, 2018

Program Manager for Infantry Combat Equipment (PM ICE), Portfolio Manager Ground Combat Element Systems (PfM GCES), MCSC, has announced they will host an Industry Day for the upcoming LITE Plate solicitation 17-18 October 2018 at Get It Done (GID) Solutions LLC in Triangle, Virginia. It will include classified one-on-one sessions with the PM shop.

This is a follow up to the Industry RFI for lightweight armor plates issued last month.

The Low Intensity Threat Environment (LITE) Plate must be Berry Amendment compliant. It is a small arms protective hard armor insert that will improve the survivability and mobility of Marines by maximizing ballistic protection while minimizing the burdens of weight, bulk, and heat stress.

Interestingly, the NAICS code is 339113 (Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing) for this requirement.

Interested parties should visit www.fbo.gov for details.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, USMC | Comments Off on USMC Announces Industry Day For Low Intensity Threat Environment (LITE) Armor Plate

USMC Awards Vertical Protective Apparel $62 Million Contract For Gen III Plate Carriers

Thursday, September 27th, 2018

Yesterday, the US Marine Corps awarded Vertical Protective Apparel, LLC, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, a $62,612,464 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to produce and deliver the PC Gen IIIs. A maximum quantity of 225,886 will be delivered, and the work will be completed by September 2023.

“The legacy carrier fit the span of the Marine Corps, but this new system is more tailorable to fit Marines of various sizes with three new smaller-stature options,” said Flora “Mackie” Jordan, body armor engineer for the Infantry Combat Equipment Team at MCSC. “We wanted to give as much mobility back to Marines as possible by reducing the weight and bulk of the vest without decreasing ballistic protection. We were able to reduce the weight of the vest by 25 percent.”

The goal was to lighten the load Marines carry to reduce fatigue and improve their operational capability in the field. A few new features of the PC Gen III contributed to the weight reduction.

Excess material was removed from the shoulders and about an inch-and-a-half was taken from the bottom, which provides better integration with the USMC Pack. The team also chose a laminated laser cut material that only absorbs seven percent of water compared to 70 percent with the legacy system.

“We made sure to get the best system for our Marines, which included choosing the best lightweight soft armor and the best quality when it comes to the cut and sew of the carrier,” said Mackie.

While conducting research, MCSC discovered Marines are eight percent faster when the PC Gen III systems were combined with prototype lightweight plates, compared to the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts. They also found Marines could remove and reassemble the vest in less than three seconds.

“With the old system, it took about seven seconds to take it off, and 10 minutes to reassemble,” said project officer Capt. Frank Coppola, Infantry Weapons at MCSC who helped test the vests. “The new quick release works a hundred times better. It has a vastly improved quick detach system for Marines to act fast while on missions.”

The PC Gen III is less bulky and easier for Marines to move in, especially when working in tight spaces. An inner vest was also added to increase modularity of the system. Marines can adjust it to meet the requirements and environment of their particular mission.

“Our vests have come a long way over the past 15 years, and the reduced weight and increased mobility is huge,” Coppola said. “The fact that we can decrease the size of the vest and still be protected is the key.”

Infantry, school house, and Reconnaissance Marines, along with vehicle crewmen and combat engineers will receive the vests when fielding begins in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019.

Information provided by the MARCORSYSCOM PAO contributed significantly to this report, particularly the quotes from PM-ICE.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, MARCORSYSCOM | 15 Comments »

USSOCOM Awards Contract To Hardwire, LLC For Soft Armor

Monday, September 24th, 2018

Back in January of last year, the Unites States Special Operations Command released a requirement for soft body armor in support of the Special Operations Forces Personal Equipment Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) program.

For those of you who are fixated on price being the government’s number one factor for selection of a solution, this isn’t always the case. For this solicitation, they were intent on the best value with appropriate consideration given to the major factors listed in descending order of importance: Technical/Management, Past Performance, and Price. Technical/Management is significantly more important than Past Performance, which is significantly more important than Price.

Specifically, the Technical/Management Factor (Factor 1) is significantly more important than the Past Performance Factor (Factor 2), which is significantly more important than the Price Factor (Factor 3). With regard to Factor 1, Subfactor 1 is significantly more important than Subfactor 2 which is significantly more important than Subfactor 3 which is significantly more important than Subfactor 4:

Factor 1 –TECHNICAL / MANAGEMENT
Subfactor 1: Weight?Subfactor 2: Soft Armor Limited User Evaluation?Subfactor 3: Technical Approach and Independent Ballistic Test Data
Subfactor 4: Delivery Schedule and Production Capacity/Capability

Factor 2 – PAST PERFORMANCE

Factor 3 – PRICE

They cancelled this initial solicitation at the end of April of this year because none of the offerors could meet the spec, which remains classified.

The solicitation was re-released in July of this year and an award was announced on September 20th to Hardwire, LLC of Pocomoke City MD. The award is a five-year, IDIQ, Firm Fixed Price contract for a minimum of $100,000.00 and a ceiling of $8,000,000.00.

Tags: Hardwire
Posted in Armor, Contracts, PM-SOF, SOF | 3 Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus – Mexican Marines Adopt Protactic Vest System with FirstSpear Technology

Friday, September 21st, 2018

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Fenton, MO – FirstSpear Technology Group and Protactic have announced a joint development combining Protactic’s advanced materials and signature management solutions with the latest FirstSpear Technologies to create a system built from the ground up to support the demanding and unique requirements of the Mexican Marines.

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The design incorporates a 6/12™ laser cut platform for less breakup of camouflage pattern and tighter pocket attachment with less movement than traditional MOLLE. Rapid-Release Tubes™ Technology on the shoulders and cummerbund provide the most secure and quickest way to don or doff a plate carrier. Tubes also ensure more consistent placement of ballistic components and does not wear out like traditional hook/loop vests.

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By using these two technologies together there is a significant reduction in weight and bulk helping to reduce fatigue and minimize the silhouette of the end user. The hydration carrier leverages Tubes to quickly secure to the vest for improved range of motion and rapid individual access to the pack itself.

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Learn more on First-Spear.tech

Posted in Armor, FS Friday Focus, International | 7 Comments »

AT Armor Amplifies Hesco Partnership

Tuesday, September 18th, 2018

Texas Company Is Poised for Body Armor Sales Growth in 2018

Fort Worth, Texas – Sept. 17, 2018
In partnership with HESCO Armor, Inc., Texas-based ballistic armor retailer AT Armor, LLC has taken a strategic step toward providing the most flexible and affordable body armor solutions for North American law enforcement and military communities as well as all responsible citizens. Now a full-line HESCO reseller, AT Armor is in the position to build customized, in-depth body armor packages for every department’s needs, large or small.
Greg Rose, OEM Account Manager, Hesco Armor, Inc., understands the importance of forming partnerships: “As a market leader in ballistic inserts, we at Hesco Armor pride ourselves on working with US Army veteran-owned businesses and forming partnerships with trusted resellers that will streamline the purchasing process for our customers.”

The following HESCO Ballistic Inserts are now listed on the AT Armor website, with more to come:
Hesco BI L210 Special Rifle Threat Stand Alone Plates (Shooters Cut)
Hesco BI U210 Special Rifle Threat Stand Alone (Shooters Cut or SAPI)
Hesco BI 3800 Level III Stand Alone Plates (Shooters Cut or SAPI)
Hesco BI 3810 Level III+ Stand Alone Plates (Shooters Cut or SAPI)
Hesco BI 4400 Level IV Stand Alone Plates (Shooters Cut or SAPI)

These popular options from HESCO cover the action spectrum from fast-moving, highly volatile environments to low-profile concealment situations and active shooter/rapid response scenarios. In addition, access to a full array of plate carriers and carrier accessories manufactured in house gives AT Armor the unique ability to offer all-inclusive armor packages in support of both individual and department sales.

AT Armor’s founder Mike Martin states “HESCO has set the bar for American-made ballistic body armor. We’re proud to offer some of the lightest and most concealable plates manufactured today to our loyal first responders, tactical teams, and responsible citizens. They deserve the best.”

For more information about the full line of Hesco Ballistic Armor products, or to request quotes for department bids or contracts, please contact the AT Armor team at info@atarmor.com or visit the website, www.atarmor.com.

Tags: AT Armor, Hesco
Posted in Armor, Press Release | Comments Off on AT Armor Amplifies Hesco Partnership

KDH Defense Systems Wins Prestigious Drug Enforcement Administration Contract

Thursday, September 13th, 2018

Eden, NC, September 13, 2018 – KDH Defense Systems, Inc. (“KDH”), a leading manufacturer of American-made, high-performance protective solutions, today announced it has been awarded a competitive, multiple-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Contract for Ballistic Body Armor from the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”). Under the terms of this award (15DDHQ18D00000014), KDH will manufacture and deliver both concealable and tactical vests, as well as hard armor plates to the DEA. The contract covers one base year with four one-year options, with a maximum value that shall not exceed $2.9 million.

“For the past several years, KDH Defense has supported the DEA’s body armor requirements and we are honored again, to have been selected as their protective solutions company,” stated Dave Herbener, President of KDH.

Jim Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of the holding company that owns both Armor Express and KDH Defense Systems stated, “Between Armor Express and KDH, we now service most of the pre-eminent Federal agencies. Our goal is to continue to expand our reach, enhance our solutions and deliver the best service that our customers mandate. We stand ready to support the DEA’s mission-critical requirements and look forward to building on our partnership in the years to come.”

Manufacturing will be performed at the Company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Eden, North Carolina. All body armor will be delivered, inspected and accepted at the DEA Headquarters and regional division offices located throughout the 50 United States and overseas.

www.kdhdefensesystems.com

Tags: KDH
Posted in Armor, Contracts, LE | Comments Off on KDH Defense Systems Wins Prestigious Drug Enforcement Administration Contract