Armor | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Armor’ Category

US Marine Corps’ ACV Competition Gathers Pace as Morgan Advanced Materials Teams with SAIC for Vehicle Protection

Wednesday, March 1st, 2017

Sixteen development prototypes for the U.S. Marine Corps’ next-generation Amphibious Combat Vehicles 1.1 (ACVs) will be fitted with special composite armour systems from Morgan Advanced Materials, after the business was awarded a contract with Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC).

The Composites and Defence Systems business of Morgan will supply a complete composite armour solution, consisting of appliqué armour and spall liners which are part of its established CAMAC® composite platform armour portfolio. Furthermore, Morgan will deliver lightweight composite flotation boxes, specifically designed to fit the vehicle’s geometry. The development of this high performance, low mass armour system is a result of working with leading materials and decades of engineering experience in ballistic and blast protective technologies.

The selection of Morgan’s armour solution and composite flotation boxes is the latest stage of a wider tender process from the Marine Corps. SAIC is one of two prime contractors selected to develop next-generation ACV 1.1s for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of this competition. Once completed, the company’s prototypes will be tested in 2017, with the potential for both SAIC’s design and Morgan’s CAMAC® armour to be down selected for the full programme.

Duncan Eldridge, President of Morgan’s Composites and Defence Systems business, commented: “We are honoured to be selected by SAIC to deliver the armour solution and composite floatation boxes for their ACV. Our platform armour solutions are a result of extensive materials and product development, ensuring our armour delivers outstanding multi-hit protection at an extraordinarily low weight. This is the latest in a number of significant project wins for our composites and defence business, and is a huge endorsement of Morgan’s composite armour technology and product development team.”

For further information, please visit:
www.morgandefencesystems.com

Tags: Morgan Advanced Materials, SAIC
Posted in Armor, Mobility | 2 Comments »

Bullet-Proof Origami Shield

Monday, February 27th, 2017

Mechanical engineers at Brigham Young University created a man-portable and lightweight bulletproof shield that was inspired by origami. The shield is flat when stowed, but quickly folds up to an encompasing shield made of 12 layers of Kevlar fabric.

In testing the barrier was capable of stopping loads upwards of .44 Magnum, making it roughly equivalent to Level IIIA body armor in protective capability.

While there’s likely still some development to undergo before this becomes a fully-realized product, it shows great promise, especially if the positive response from the Law Enforcement agents testing the device is anything to go by.

Tags: Brigham Young University
Posted in Armor | 20 Comments »

SKD Tactical – FirstSpear STT.1 Plate Carrier

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017

SKD Tactical has partnered with FirstSpear to create the STT.1 Plate Carrier, an inexpensive carrier featuring both 6/12 and Tubes technology, optimized for use with SDK’s 10×12 armor plates. SKD’s rather spirited release/product description can be read below:

Combine the technological advances of First Spear and the marketing gonads of SKD in a dirty, backseat tryst, and the only thing that could gestate is a ground-breakingly evil product like the First Spear STT (Six-Twelve-Tubes) Plate Carrier.

Add to that the ultra high performance-to-cost-ratio of the SKD Armor Level IV Plates and a re-design of the STT to fit these plates like a custom Italian suit, and voila… TACTICAL ORGASM, otherwise known as the “STT.1”.

The First Spear STT.1 PC features the following:

First and only sub $200 plate carrier featuring BOTH 6/12™ and Tubes™ technology.

ONLY FITS SKD Armor 10×12 Plates, but fits them PERFECTLY.

All-Molle compatible front, back and cummerbund.

Weights 1.5 lbs.

Bottom flap pushes the plate to the top of the pocket for proper placement over your upper thoracic region.

Exclusive SKD-spec loop fastener strips to add PIG AFC Pontoons for increased air flow and padded goodness.

3 different cummerbund sizes to maximize fit*.

Available in Ranger Green, Black, Coyote, Multicam, and MultiCam Black

Made in USA.

SKD Exclusive!

We’ve also packaged the STT.1 with 2 SKD Armor 10×12 Level IV plates for an incredible deal at $499! Click HERE for the complete package!

www.first-spear.com

www.skdtac.com

Tags: FirstSpear, SKD Tactical
Posted in Advertiser, Armor, Load Carrying, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Veterans MFG

Friday, January 27th, 2017

Veterans MFG is a Veteran-owned and operated manufacturer of personal armor, vehicle armor, mobile ballistic shields, and tactical gear, based in Katy, Texas. Their products include IIIA-rated body armor, rifle-rated plates, ballistic face masks, plate-compatible t-shirts, and their rifle-rated Mobile/Vehicle Ballistic Shield, which can either be set up in a vehicle or carried via the straps for on-foot use.

Check out the video below of Veterans MFG with the Katy PD testing out their Vehicle Ballistic Shield.

vetsmfg.com

Posted in Armor, Veterans | 4 Comments »

SHOT Show 17 – Blue Force Gear Klaux Plate Carrier

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

Blue Force Gear’s new Klaux Plate Carrier is the latest evolution in its PLATEminus Plate Carrier line. The KLAUX sets itself apart from other armor carrier systems currently available by using a patent-pending quick attach buckle. This distinct emergency-release system is built directly into the front attachment points of the vest. This allows the vest to immediately release and can easily be shed when the user pulls the release cable (conveniently hidden beneath the chin protector.)

The KLAUX Plate Carrier also greatly reduces reassembly time. Rather than spending up to 30 minutes for reassembly, most end users can reassemble the KLUAX Plate Carrier in as little as 30 seconds, which means that this carrier can easily be used in training where the user becomes familiar with the exact carrier they will be using in the field.

www.blueforcegear.com

Tags: Blue Force Gear
Posted in Advertiser, Armor, SHOT Show | 3 Comments »

SHOT Show 17 – Angel Armor Enlight Window Armor

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

At this year’s SHOT, Angel Armor introduced a companion piece to their Avail ballistic armor vehicle door drop-in panels, the Enlight Window Armor. Enlight is a Level IIIA transparent window armor designed for drop-in, tool-free installation to virtually any vehicle window. It offers multi-round ballistic protection from pistol-caliber projectiles up to .44 Magnum.

armor.angelintelligence.com

Tags: Angel Armor
Posted in Armor, SHOT Show | Comments Off on SHOT Show 17 – Angel Armor Enlight Window Armor

3M Subsidiary Wins Contracts for Two U.S. Army Soldier Protection Programs

Saturday, January 14th, 2017

ST. PAUL, Minn — The U.S. Army has selected Ceradyne, Inc., a 3M company, as the awardee for two low-rate initial production (LRIP) contracts for next-generation helmet systems and hard body armor inserts as part of the Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) and Vital Torso Protection (VTP) – Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) components of the Soldier Protection System (SPS).

The Army designed the IHPS to give soldiers a lighter-weight ballistic helmet system that also provides passive hearing protection and increased blunt-impact performance. This helmet system includes numerous accessories, including a mandible, visor, night vision goggle attachment device, rails and modular ballistic applique. The contract awarded to Ceradyne is valued at over $7 million for the delivery of more than 5,300 IHPS helmet systems. Production is expected to start in 2017.

The VTP will equip soldiers with lighter-weight body armor inserts. The $36 million contract is for the production of more than 30,000 ESAPI, with production also expected to start in 2017. This VTP award is an addition to a previous $34 million award, for a total of $70 million on the VTP LRIP contract.

“We are honored to be the awardee of these prestigious contracts,” said Cheryl Ingstad, business manager, Advanced Ceramics Platform – Defense, 3M. “The SPS program represents the highest level of lightweight technology to date. Our focus from the onset has been to meet the Army’s stringent specifications for the SPS, and that will continue as we move into initial production. As a leading science company, 3M has deep expertise in advanced lightweight materials, which, combined with our proven production history, differentiates our defense offerings.”

The SPS will replace the Army’s current personal protective equipment (PPE) system. It is designed to defeat current threats while providing an overall weight reduction for soldiers compared to existing PPE. Both the IHPS and VTP began as research and development programs with multiple contenders.

Ceradyne has delivered more than 120,000 enhanced combat helmets (ECH) to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps since 2014. The ECH offers the highest protection level of any helmet in the U.S. Armed Forces inventory, even protecting against certain small arms threats. Ceradyne has also delivered more than 2 million hard body armor inserts to the U.S. Armed Forces to date.

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

Tags: 3M
Posted in Armor, PEO-Soldier, Press Release | Comments Off on 3M Subsidiary Wins Contracts for Two U.S. Army Soldier Protection Programs

Honeywell Lightens Tactical Vests For Law Enforcement Officers By Up To 40 Percent

Thursday, January 12th, 2017

New fabric made from next-generation Honeywell Spectra® fiber offers breakthrough lightweight protection

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ, Jan 12, 2017 — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it has released Centurion™, a composite fabric designed to make law enforcement apparel and equipment 35 to 40 percent lighter. Centurion is the latest performance fabric made from Honeywell Spectra® fiber and is suitable for any type of application where the product needs to be strong but lightweight.

Traditionally, law enforcement officers have carried extra gear such as ammunition and radios by attaching them to modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) web designs that include straps sewn onto their tactical vests. MOLLE straps add extra weight and can make movement more difficult for officers.

By contrast, vests made with Centurion fabric are 35 to 40 percent lighter because they do not require extra fabric. Centurion is laser-cut according to user preference, resulting in slits along the vests from which officers can hang, hook or tie gear as needed. Because nothing needs to be sewn into these vests, they are lighter and more comfortable for officers to wear, as well as faster and easier for manufacturers to produce. Combined with Spectra fiber’s strength, Centurion-made vests are resistant to cuts, abrasion and water, making them suitable for many tough environments.

“Centurion represents the next evolution of lightweight law enforcement equipment, removing several pounds from the more than 20 pounds that an officer can typically wear while on patrol,” said Lori Wagner, armor marketing manager for Honeywell Packaging and Composites. “At the core of Centurion fabric’s remarkable properties is Spectra, Honeywell’s next-generation fiber that is the material of choice for law enforcement agencies around the world as well as the U.S. military. Honeywell’s armor technology not only provides life-saving materials, but also produces industry-leading, high-performance, lightweight fabric like Centurion, designed to help those who protect us.”

Spectra fiber is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. Pound for pound, Spectra is 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. It has up to 60 percent greater strength than alternate aramid fiber. Spectra fiber is used to create Spectra Shield®, an advanced ballistic-resistant material. Honeywell’s Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process designed to optimize the ballistic performance characteristics of Spectra as well as aramid fiber in Gold Shield® materials.

Spectra Shield and Gold Shield products have been widely adopted and proven for the most advanced armor applications globally, from bullet-resistant vests, breast plates and helmets to combat vehicles and military aircraft – all which require lightweight solutions and superior performance.

Honeywell maintains an active Spectra fiber and ballistic materials research program focused on continuous improvement and development of high-performance materials. For more information about Spectra fiber, visit www.honeywell-spectra.com.

Tags: Honeywell
Posted in Armor, LE, Materials, Press Release | Comments Off on Honeywell Lightens Tactical Vests For Law Enforcement Officers By Up To 40 Percent