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Ops-Core Officially Launches Mesh FAST Helmet Cover

Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

I know it seems like a long time coming but the Ops-Core cover in MultiCam for the FAST helmet is now available through their website.

Above you can see the goggle strap retention flap as well as removable counterweight pouch.

Features:
-Lightweight mesh construction
-Para-cord attachment points for natural foliage, camouflage material or cable management
-Rear Velcro® goggle strap retention and removable rear pouch for ANVis battery pack or counterweight
-Protects the shell while still providing all of the FAST helmet platform functionality
-Attaches with integrated Velcro® tabs
-Template and instructions for NVG hole pattern included

www.Ops-Core.com

Tags: Ops-Core
Posted in Camo, Helmets | 10 Comments »

If The Army Adopts OCP Will The Air Force Follow Suit?

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013

At this point it has become glaringly obvious that the US Army is adopting the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern developed by Crye Presicion and known commercially as MultiCam. The question now is whether the other services follow their lead? Elements of USSOCOM were already wearing MultiCam when the Army adopted it for use in Afghanistan in 2009. The Air Force also jumped on the OCP bandwagon, issuing it to all OEF bound Airman. Additionally, ahead of their Army counterparts, USAF Battlefield Airman are wearing MultiCam during stateside training and in some cases as a garrison uniform. Already in DoD, MultiCam abounds.

From the very beginning of the Camouflage Improvement Effort the Air Force has monitored the Army’s progress and unofficially signed on as a stake holder. While there has been no announcement from the Air Force (or the Army for that matter) on the future of their camoflauge program, we believe that they will adopt OCP shortly after the Army (and hopefully get rid of that abomination of a uniform in the process, the so-called Airman Battle Uniform). The government source who informed soft goods manufacturers that the Army would slowly transition to OCP earlier this week at AUSA said as much. So that puts the Army, the Air Force, and the majority of USSOCOM in MultiCam, leaving our maritime forces as the odd man out. But will pending legislation for a common camouflage uniform be enough to persuade the Navy and Marine Corps to go along with the crowd?

Posted in Air Force, Camo, Multicam | 44 Comments »

US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort – A Soft Launch?

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

I’ve heard lots of rumors concerning Army camouflage but late this afternoon at AUSA I was approached by several soft good companies that they had been informed, off-the-record, by a Government source close to the program that the US Army would indeed adopt OCP as its camouflage pattern. The source of this information is very reliable. Apparently, the companies were informed to help assuage uneasiness in the industrial base.

The source confirmed that the Army was unwilling to make an official announcement at this time due to the federal government’s current budget woes. The party line remains that it just wouldn’t look right to give the appearance of spending money so recently after the shutdown.

However, according to the information received by SSD, the Army will eventually make an official announcement and plans to begin fielding OCP to new accessions beginning in FY15 with uniforms for the rest of the force starting in FY16. According to the source, the reason for the delay is that the Army plans to tweak the colors in the pattern slightly. Interestingly, the source also claimed that the Army would have access to the woodland and arid environmental patterns as well.

When asked about the time gap until the new patterns are fielded and the requirement for the Army’s incumbent UCP, the source answered that analysis indicated that there were enough uniforms already in stock or on order to support the force except for some odd sizes based on current demand models.

I’m glad to hear that there are some moves being made behind the scenes but I wish the Army would just cut the cloak and dagger and announce a plan. Purchasing additional ACUs in UCP is just a waste since they plan on replacing them. Make the announcement now and speed up the timeline.

Posted in Camo | 70 Comments »

AUSA – WL Gore/Raven Aerostar Turkey Suit

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

“THROUGH GORE’S PARTNERSHIP WITH RAVEN AEROSTAR, A WORLD CLASS MANUFACTURER, THE NEMESIS TURKEY SUITS WITH GORE MULTISPECTRAL CONCEALMENT TECHNOLOGIES OFFER A TRULY REVOLUTIONARY PROTECTION CAPABILITY FOR THOSE GOING INTO HARM’S WAY.”
– JOHN HOLCOMBE, W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES CO-INVENTOR AND BUSINESS LEADER

Awhile back we told you that WL Gore was about more than just waterproof/breathable jackets. They design and manufacture (or license to others) a wide variety of technologies. In the defense sector alone they have been a constant source of innovation in the soft goods arena. The latest examples of this are the new GORE® Multispectral Concealment Technologies and the associated NEMESIS™ line of Garments, Personal Hides & Equipment Covers, Multispectral Signature Concealment from Raven Industries. Raven Aerostar has a long relationship with WL Gore and manufactured the initial ECWCS garments back in the mid-80s so it’s no surprise to see them introduce this new technology.

Commonly referred to as the Turkey Suit due to its resemblance to the suits worn by hunters. The NEMESIS™ garment seen above features a face fabric in a developmental, proprietary WL Gore camouflage pattern. Considering they have introduced commercial hunting patterns it should be no surprise that they also have military patterns.

But the underlying technology in this material is what’s important. Quite simply, garments made from GORE® Multispectral Concealment Technologies greatly reduce the range of detection from sophisticated multi-spectral (Visual/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR) sensors.

The NEMESIS Turkey Suit is available in a broad range of military camouflage textile patterns, including Digital Desert (compatible with AOR1 and desert MARPAT), Digital Woodland (compatible with AOR2 and woodland MARPAT), and Transitional (compatible with multi-terrain patterns).

Sizes available: Small/Medium or Large/Extra Large

The garment is available for authorized users on www.gsaadvantage.gov, just search for “turkey suit”.

Tags: Raven Aerostar, WL Gore
Posted in AUSA, Camo, Materials | 18 Comments »

DEFCON X Syndicate AOR Shoes – They’ve Arrived!

Saturday, October 19th, 2013

The limited edition DEFCON X Syndicate AOR shoes have been released, and we managed to get a hold of pairs of both the AOR1 SK-8 Hi Notchback “S” and the AOR2 Old Skool Pro “S”.

Sk8-Hi Notchback “S”

The Sk8-Hi Notchback “S” features a reinforced tan Warrior Suede upper. The AOR1-inspired digital desert pattern is printed on ripstop panels. Additional features include the leather side stripe with nylon webbing, the gusseted tongue with Velcro patch, notch back heel, flipped waffle sole for grip, Dri-Lex lining, paracord laces, and a custom DEFCON patch.

Old Skool “S”

The Old Skool “S” features a black Warrior Suede upper, paired with an AOR2-inspired digital woodland pattern printed on ballistic mesh panels. Additional feature include flipped waffle sole for grip, Dri-Lex lining, and paracord laces. The Old Skool “S” is designed mainly for skating.

Where to buy the DEFCON X Van Syndicate AOR Shoes

—

DEFCON is a frequent collaborator with Vans Syndicate. They started their camouflage shoes packs in the mid 2000s and were the first in footwear to work with Crye Precision directly for a MultiCam shoe. www.defcongroup.com/

The Vans Syndicate line offers limited edition products available mainly through skate shops and specialty boutiques. A full listing of Syndicate licensed stores in your area can be found at www.vanssyndicate.com/

Tags: DEFCON, Vans Syndicate
Posted in Boots, Camo | 1 Comment »

UPDATED – US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Update – OCP Contract Documents Removed From FBO

Friday, October 18th, 2013

Curiouser and Curiouser. This morning the US Army Contracting Command removed both the Notice of Intent to negotiate a license contract with Crye Precision for Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern as well as the associated redacted J&A published one week ago, from Federal Business Opportunities which serves to notify the public of Government procurement information.

Below is a copy of the justification and approval that was removed. A J&A is a legal review of a justification to purchase a product or service from a sole source without open competition. ~~Unfortunately, we do not have screenshots of either FBO notices but if any readers have copies we will post them as updates to this story.~~

Click to view .pdf

There could be several reasons that one or the other of these public record notices might be removed, but both? Within 30 minutes of one another? It is rare that entire postings are removed. Generally, they are updated or cancelled outright but not removed altogether. We have determined that the notices were not removed by the office of the POC listed on the Notices but rather somewhere else and they were unable to explain the disappearance. All-in-all, this is odd. We are trying to determine what is going on.

UPDATE – I guess the old adage “You Can’t Run From The Internet” still rings true. Below are cached versions of the notices that were removed FedBizOpps.

Procure Government Purpose Rights for Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP)

Click image to view .pdf

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN (OCP) LICENSE AGREEMNT (sic) – J&A

Click image to view .pdf

Posted in Camo, Contracts | 55 Comments »

Tigerstripe Vans

Thursday, October 17th, 2013

I picked these up last week at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville.

Tags: Vans
Posted in Camo | 3 Comments »

UF PRO Striker Combat Shirt – Silent Hero Edition

Thursday, October 17th, 2013

The limited edition Striker Badlands Combat Shirt was created specifically for the Special Intervention Forces of the Silent Heroes Foundation, an organization that battles illegal rhinoceros horn trade in South Africa.

It features sleeves made of 50/50 NyCo ripstop Badlands camo, which are equipped with the typical Striker pocket configuration.

The torso and arm pit area uses a new Merino/COCONA knit for quick re-drying of the torso and arm pit area, which also offers excellent wear comfort. This fiber contains active charcoal to suppress bad odor after long periods of wearing. UF PRO air/pac inserts in the shoulder area provide further comfort.

The elbow areas are designed to hold D3O Trio Mid protectors, for additional elbow protection.

ufpro.si/uf_pro_products/shirts/41/uf_pro_striker_combat_shirt_silent_hero_edition/

Tags: Hyde Definition, PenCott, UF PRO
Posted in Camo, Clothing | 3 Comments »