New Zealand scientists have developed a revolutionary new fabric that is stab and flame resistant, yet remains light to wear as wool. For the World news Australia article, go here.
This wool based fiber is not only FR (no dripping in vertical flammability tests), but also cut resistant.
For more info on Vectran’s new line of fibers go to http://www.vectranfiber.com/.
Undergarments
Men’s boxers, women’s panties, short and long-sleeved T-shirts, a bra, and long underwear pants will be fielded in the same Sand color as the current ABU T-shirt. The garments can be worn alone or in concert with one another along the lines of the Army’s Gen III ECWCS.
Airman Battle Ensemble
The FR Airman Battle Ensemble will be fielded in the ABU’s digital Tigerstripe pattern which adapted the Army’s UCP colorway by adding a fourth color; Slate. Since the garment consisting of a jacket and trousers is designed specifically for combat the overall design has been altered slightly from the ABU although it’s general appearance will remain the same.
The jacket unfortunately retains the front zipper as well as the same useless, four chest pockets found on the ABU/BDU but adds zippered pockets on the upper sleeve as well velcro pockets on the forearm.
The trousers a near exact copy of the FR variant of the ACU.
Airman Battle Shirt
Along the same lines as the Marine Corps’ FROG shirt and Army’s Combat Shirt, the ABS will feature a moisture-wicking torso mated to FR sleeves with padded elbows and the same sleeve and forearm pocket setup as the Battle Ensemble jacket. Currently, the ABS has a mock turtleneck like the ACS. The torso will be a a solid color and the sleeves in digital Tigerstripe.
Foul-weather Jacket and Trousers
For inclement weather the Air Force is planning a lightweight rainsuit. There is also discussion of a solid colored fleece jacket although no one has gone so far as to consider a program on the level of FREE or Gen III ECWCS for the Air Force.
Accessories
FR socks, balaclavas, gloves, as well as belts are under development and will join the other equipment as they are ready for fielding although most of these items are available commercially.
Armor
Although not officially a component of ABS-G, the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) developed for ACC’s SF community and soon adopted for all Security Forces AF-wide is now available in the Air Force digital pattern. Additionally, an Air Force unique body armor system is under development.
Army Material Command is conducting a one year test of a solid tan uniform based on the ACU for deployed civilian personnel. The ensemble will include a tan version of the Gen II ECWCS parka and helmet cover.
Read the entire article at the Belvoir Eagle.
Photo Courtesy of AMC.
The Aevex® website describes the technology like this, “Aevex® is the seamless consolidation of complicated functions into a single textile panel that is sewn into apparel like an extra layer of fabric. These panels are light, ultra-thin, and flexible. Each contains heating materials, electronics, and a fully integrated, flexible and rechargeable energy source.”
The concept is called Intelligent Heat™ and utilizes a proprietary polymer in the sandwich of materials to sense temperatures across the entire grid and heat the areas that need it. As your hands warm up to body temp, they stop wicking heat away from the polymer and heat production within Aevex® goes down.
So far both Mountain Hardwear and Outdoor Research have integrated the technology into gloves but Aevex® intends to integrate the technology into jackets and footwear by next year.
At $300 for Mountain Hardwear’s Red Savina Glove and an MSRP of $259 for Outdoor Research’s PrimoVolta, the technology isn’t cheap. Additionally, after four to six hours of use you have to plug the gloves in to a wall outlet to get a recharge so it probably isn’t quite ready for the troops, at least yet. I do however, see an immediate possibility for this technology for Helo crews if it can be integrated into an FR shell since they have access to onboard power.
Mountain Hardwear Red Savina Glove
Outdoor Research PrimoVolta Gloves
For more information contact Aevex®.
Images from Aevex®.
EOTAC is dipping their toe in the camo pond. They are releasing a French Lizard camo variant of the Men’s Operator Grade Field Jacket based on the French issued Algerian combat jacket. While not a 100% accurate reproduction of the jacket made famous by the French Foreign Legion, the new offering available in time for SHOT, provides an authentic look and feel. Great pains were taken to accurately reproduce both the pattern and material. While the swatch below is printed on ripstop material the final garment will be of HBT, just like the original. The Field Jacket is currently available in sizes Small – 3XL and Black, Coyote Brown, OD Green colors. Word also has it that more camo patterns are on the way.
For more information on the Field Jacket check out EOTAC’s website.
Proline Neck Gaiter
Neck gaiters have been around for some time. My introduction to them was seeing Royal Marines in the Falklands campaign wearing them for warmth against the extreme weather. Based on this, years later while in the Army I jumped at the chance to purchase a commercial offering made from polypropylene. Unfortunately, neither the design nor fabric were very good. However, TAD seems to have gotten it right with theirs. At work or at play, the low bulk Proline Neck Gaiter combines military functionality with outdoor industry fabrics. The gaiter is unique in that it is cut on a bias. You often see this feature with balaclavas but not neck gaiters. This allows you to wear it folded over turtleneck-style or pulled up completely over the face.
Brain Case Watch Cap
TAD designed this comfortable knit cap to be low profile so that it would fit under a variety of headgear. The Merino’s low bulk to insulation ratio means that your helmet won’t sit way up on your head. It is very comfortable. So much so that my four year old has absconded with mine.
Merino Wool
Both products are manufactured from Australian Merino Wool which has been used in the outdoor industry for some time due to its breathability and wickability. Merino has some additional traits that make it great as a tactical fabric but it has only recently been used in this application here in the US due to Berry issues. Please remember that as a natural fiber Merino wool is inherently FR. It is extremely soft, pill resistant, and you won’t notice any of that itchy feeling normally associated with wool. This is great for those with severe sensitivities or lanolin allergies.
Both of these fine products are available in Black, M.E. Green, and M.E. Brown.
Visit TAD Gear to order both the watch cap and neck gaiter.
We spied this Tru-Spec Combat Shirt at the Invista booth at AUSA. It is a prototype and no word on when of even if it will go into production. The body is the Cordura FR base layer fabric we saw at OR.
by Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker
Air Forces Central Public Affairs – Combined Air and Space Operations Center
9/25/2008 – SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) — Battlefield Airmen will soon receive a new equipment item that will improve their ability to execute their combat duties.
The new airman battle system-ground is a tactical ensemble, or equipment item, for Airmen who perform their mission outside the wire in close coordination with ground forces.
“It will provide Airmen with the right level of safety combined with a fully functional, tactically proficient ensemble, thereby, increasing their confidence and ability to perform their mission,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff, the 9th Air Force and Air Forces Central command chief.
Airmen are operating outside the wire in an increasing number of ground-centric traditional and nontraditional Air Force missions. The ABS-G was created to fulfill an urgent operational need to enable Airmen to function effectively in ground combat operations.
“The safety and confidence provided to our ground combat Airmen from the development of the ABS-G is a key “outside-the-wire” priority,” said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the Air Forces Central commander.
“Today, more than ever, we have Airmen conducting operations in the ground battle space, ” General North said. “Our effort to provide them with our airman ground combat ensemble provides them with the highest level of utility, comfort and protection. This is key to our ability to work outside the wire in an ensemble that is optimized for the environment our Airmen are facing.”
Traditional battlefield Airmen who had experience operating outside the wire contributed to the ABS-G development by providing suggestions and feedback during the first prototype phase.
The ensemble was designed with the tactical configuration in mind, said Col. Lawrence Jackson II, the Air Forces Central expeditionary ground combat support adviser.
“We spoke to members in the field to find out what changes would be tactically efficient. These inputs guided the design,” he said.
The airman battle ensemble is comprised of the coat, pants and battle shirt. It is basically a tactical fire resistant adaptation of the current ABU. The ABE is the core of the ABS-G.
“It wasn’t designed to replace the airman battle uniform,” Chief Dearduff said. “It was designed to give us a fire-retardant tactical ensemble that is fully integrated through multiple layers of clothing and equipment to provide maximum fire protection, warmth and tactical functionality.”
The developers stressed the ABE is considered a personal protective ensemble and not a uniform. The ABE will be unit controlled, issued equipment and will only be worn by select Airmen based on their assigned mission. The Air Force will issue an ABE only if it is needed. It will not be for sale in the military clothing sales stores.
Two fundamental warfighter requirements drove the ABE configuration: the need for fire resistance and the tactical integration with body armor, Colonel Jackson said.
“The ABE was designed for ground combat Airmen by ground combat Airmen,” said Colonel Jackson, who spent a year commanding Airmen of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group during the Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006 to 2007 surge. “We spoke with ground combat Airmen, we lived with ground combat Airmen, we are ground combat Airmen.”
Since ground combat is a full spectrum business, wearing the ABE in layers allows for maximum temperature and weather adaptability across the full range of climate and weather conditions.
Pockets were configured for access while wearing full body armor, including shoulder and side plate protection. Each layer of the ABS-G has identical sleeve and leg pocket configurations.
The ABS-G will be distributed in the February 2009 timeframe. The testing phase will most likely last 18 to 24 months. Several Airmen are wear-testing the ensemble in selected units in the area of responsibility now.
“We will use the constant feedback from the test phase to improve the ensemble accordingly,” Colonel Jackson said. “We want to get it right. Your feedback will help us make it so.”
