We received this photo today and wanted to pass it along. It does a great job of showing you the SORD Variable Armor Carrier as well as what it looks like in the A-TACS pattern.
SORD’s VAC is a pretty interesting design. Not only can it be used as a plate carrier, but the side wings, which can hold soft armor inserts as well as small hard plates, can be added or subtracted as needed. When you add the wings with armor and plates, you have a full armor carrier. That’s some serious scalability.
Polish company SPECOPS has just released these photos of their MBS-1 uniform in two of Hyde Definitions’ PenCott patterns; Badlands and Green Zone.
There’s been little written about HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp’s new Quantum Stealth technology. Thanks to HyperStealth, I have seen a large number of photos in addition to the two that they gave me to share with you. It’s important to note that these are mock ups specifically for use in the media to give you an idea of what the technology accomplishes. Don’t mind the hexagons, those are there to throw you off the trail. The actual technology looks a little bit different when in use.
The ultimate question you are going to ask me is, “Does it work?” My answer is a simple, “Yes,” but I have to say that it still needs some work. While HyperStealth’s Guy Cramer hasn’t made any claims that it’s quite ready for the battlefield yet, it sure does warrant further development. I’m not sure exactly how it works but I’ve got a real good idea and I have to say that simplicity is key to the success of concepts like this. I’m not going to share my specific observations because this is their idea but I will say that it is a passive technology. Sharing too much might put their IP at risk or worse yet, give the bad guys a notion of how to do it as well.
In the early hours this morning, like a predawn raid, FirstSpear launched their website. Make sure you check out their new line of products.
Why FirstSpear? We’ve been waiting for months here at SSD to be able to finally tell you.
The Primus Pilus, or First Spear, was the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion.
“Centurions were the guardians of Rome. At the height of the Roman Republic there were over five thousand qualified Roman Centurions in the Legions. To be a Centurion required that, in a mostly illiterate society, one be able to read and write clearly, to be able to convey and create orders, to be capable of not only performing every skill of a Roman soldier but to teach every skill of a Roman soldier. Becoming a Centurion required intense physical ability, courage beyond the norm, years of sacrifice and a total devotion to the philosophy which was Rome.
When Rome fell to barbarian invaders, there were fewer than five hundred qualified Centurions. Not because Rome had fewer people but because it had fewer people willing to make sacrifices.
And the last Centurions left their shields in the heather and took a barbarian bride…..â€
After Facebook Fan “Way Point” offered this one up, we just couldn’t resist.
Yesterday, the Army released a pre-solicitation called simply, “Camouflage Fabric.”
The contents are simple. Notice, the “pattern will be provided” provision. This and the three different patterns on NY/CO with a fourth on 500D Cordura indicate that the pattern down-select is moving right along and the Army is preparing for the next testing phase.
LI 001, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern A (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 002, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern B (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 003, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern C (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 004, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern D (TBD)printed on 500 Denier Nylon Cordura fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
Unfortunately, this is a “Reverse Auction.” Great for known commodities, not so great for new developments. Printing new camo patterns is in the realm of new developments. No one has probably printed these patterns before and it will take some time to get them to render properly. It becomes even more difficult when there is more than one substrate. Different fabrics absorb inks differently. I foresee a lot of developmental work to get these patterns right, so that they will get a fair shake during the testing phase. I hope no one loses their shorts on this one.
According to several internet postings, the accompanying pictures is reportedly of a new camouflage pattern and uniform for the Dutch Army.
Unveiled at a recent Army shooting competition, the garrison and field variants are reportedly to see fielding beginning in 2014 as an extension of the Soldier Modernization Program (in Dutch, VOSS for the English Improved Operational Soldier System). It is anticipated that this variant, intended for woodland and urban environments, will not see any further alteration. The pattern is of the so-called fractal design, which uses patterns within patterns. Additionally, there is an arid pattern under development. As you can see, the Soldiers are in front of a TenCate sign. According to reporting, the uniforms are made from TenCate’s Defender-M fabric, which is the same fabric story as the Army’s FR ACU and USMC’s FROG.
