Wilcox BOSS Xe

Archive for the ‘Foreign’ Category

The Mk 7 Helmet, Up Close and Personal

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

US manufacturer Wilcox Industries had a brand new British AC900/600 helmet on display at AUSA. The AC900/600 has been designated as the Mk 7 for use as an interim measure while PECOC refines development of an entirely new suite of individual equipment for the British Tommie. You can see from the display the full advantage of the scalloped brim when used with Night Vision Systems. This was one of the driving reasons behind the interim adoption of modified variant of the AC900/600 helmet worn by UKSF on CT role. Wilcox had the helmet due to a recent development effort in support of the MoD. This also demonstrates Wilcox’s excellent capability to integrate seemingly disparate systems into a cohesive capability in rapid order.

British Mark 7 Helmet

It Was Fun While It Lasted

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

I guess it was only a matter of time before someone knocked the AOR patterns off. My bet was on AOR1 and the copy coming out of Asia to feed the insatiable quest for airsoft nirvana; that perfect “impression”. Well, I was wrong. German company CLAW Gear has released a “combat” uniform in an AOR2 inspired pattern resplendent with Crye-style knee and elbow pads. In addition to their Stalker TDU, CLAW also offers an ACU-style uniform and combat shirt.

SOCOM Pattern

Referred to as the “SOCOM” pattern, these are already flooding eBay as issue uniforms. Possible OPSEC nightmare? You be the judge.

On the other hand, CLAW’s Rhodesian inspired Bushveldt camo is pretty cool.

Bush Veldt

Arc’teryx Combat Pant and Jacket Combo

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Grey Group is offering a fantastic deal on a Combat Pant and Jacket Combo. Both garments work great alone, as outer garments, or as part of a layering system.

Arc'teryx Combat Jacket in Crocodile

The Combat Jacket features athletic patterning and high-tech Tweave® Durastretch® fabric to ensure freedom of movement and breathability.

Arc'teryx Combat Pant in Crocodile

The Combat Pant has burly, extra-wide 2¼” belt loops and is crafted from breathable, four-way stretch Tweave® Durastretch® fabric. Designed for athletic movement under rugged conditions, these pants are equally at home in coastal forests, arid deserts, or on mountain ridges.

When purchased together, the combo would normally retail for $660 from most vendors but is only $399 during this special offer. This deal is only available in Crocodile and only from Grey Group.

HK416 Sub-Compact Carbine

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

HK416 Sub Carbine from the firearms blog

The Firearms Blog published what may be the only pictures floating around of HK’s 416 Sub-Compact Carbine. It was not displayed at this week’s AUSA annual meeting and rumor has it that was developed specifically for a British requirement. This is why it was only shown at DSEi and to little fanfare. Furthermore, it is entirely a developmental project and only a few are being hand fitted for the customer.

Arc’teryx Launches Veilance Today

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Arc’teryx needs no introduction to the readers of Soldier Systems Daily. Their LEAF line has set the standard for technical military wear. Now, they have brought their expertise to a new area; performance menswear. The much anticipated Veilance collection offers a new level of urban camouflage for the armed professional. Finally, the pinnacle of performance is being engineered into garments that will fit in as well on a battlefield as a shopping center. A very limited offering of Arc’teryx Veilance was unveiled in select stores beginning October 1.

Veilance started with the question of why the philosophy of ‘form follows function’ was not a mainstay in clothing worn in the urban environment. Spurred by developments in garment technology, as well as by wide reaching technology based shifts in society and culture at large, the potential for an entirely new type of apparel has evolved. Arc’teryx has applied its expertise in performance design, basing Veilance on aesthetic style, superior quality and extraordinary performance for the urban arena. Technical textiles provide full weather protection and personal comfort. 3D anatomic patterning augments fit and drape and creates a distinguished look. Innovative features and premium components highlight the extraordinary finishing detail. Performing well under a myriad of activities and conditions, social settings, modes of transit, physical exertion levels, interior and exterior climates, the Veilance collection creates protection that is always comfortable and projects an aesthetic of quiet confidence.

Veilance Field JacketVeilance Field Blazer

Designer Conroy Nachtigall, a graduate of Central St. Martens in London, has reinterpreted menswear classics and combined them with state of the art manufacturing techniques and technical materials usually found in outdoor garments, creating this radically innovative menswear collection. The Veilance collection includes a GORE-TEX long coat and field jacket, WINDSTOPPER blazers and pants, fine Merino sweaters, and ingeniously designed dress shirts and tees. Continuing the trajectory established in outdoor and military sectors, the Veilance collection is the company’s entry into inspired clothing for day-to-day urban use. The Veilance collection will be manufactured in Canada in Arc’teryx’s own Vancouver factory and available in a limited offering this October from select premium men’s clothing stores: 290 Square Meters, Amsterdam; The Tannery, Boston; The Glade Firmament, Berlin; International Gallery Beams and Beams House, Tokyo; The Hideout, London, as well as direct from Arc’teryx.

For any of you who still aren’t convinced, check out this great article from Code magazine.

For those of you ready to experience Veilance visit veilance.arcteryx.com

*Note that existing LEAF and Pro customers will not be eligible for discounts.

-Eric Graves
Editor

UCP-Delta Did Someone Else Get There First?

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

According to an article published today on Strike Hold!, it looks as though the Kazakh’s may have come to a similar conclusion as the US Army that UCP needs a little browning down to be more effective in the high desert of Central Asia.

Exercise Steppe Eagle, a two-week Partnership for Peace exercise, involving British Territorial Army (reserves) soldiers from 7th Battalion The Rifles (7 RIFLES) and Kazakh airborne troops
Photo: Chris Fletcher

Thanks to recent photographs taken of Exercise Steppe Eagle, a two-week Partnership for Peace exercise, involving British Territorial Army (reserves) soldiers from 7th Battalion The Rifles (7 RIFLES) and Kazakh airborne troops we get some close ups of the pattern. Also, note the Woodland PASGT vest on the paratrooper on the right.

Finns Develop Fabric Based Antenna Technology

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Patria Aviation Oy has revealed information about their new fabric based antenna system.

Patria Aviation Oy prototype jacket

The design is formed into a flexible patch made from pliable conductive material that can be affixed to clothing and may lead the way toward more conformal technologies. Intended for use with cellular communications and associated GPS systems, the patch is supposedly able to “maintain a strong radio signal, even when the patch is bent vertically, horizontally or diagonally” and “send location information to a remote user”.

Patria Aviation Oy patch antenna

It does have a few drawbacks based on how you look at it. The systems is currently optimized for use with Iridium satellite phones and is incapable of receiving calls, but rather only in placing them. At any rate, the concept works and could be used as-is in several situations, particularly in the realm of sensors.

Modern Day Marine Round Up

Monday, October 5th, 2009

There were a lot of great products at last week’s Modern Day Marine expo at Quantico, Virginia.

Wilcox Industries showed their new interface for the Ops-Core mount.

Wilcox Ops-Core Interface

Speaking of Ops-Core, they debuted several new products available in early 2010. This eye shield was actually developed a couple of years ago but placed on hold while they refined the FAST technology for a military customer. The lens slides up and down on a track located inside the shell. It will replace the front brow pad inside the helmet as a unit and is ready to go awaiting production of the actual clear shield which will be manufactured by Oakley.

Ops-Core Shield

The Smith Optics Elite Division crew was on hand.

Smith Optics

Australian firm Global Safety Solutions & Management PTY LTD exhibited their new wet weather laminate material. It is used in the current Australian issue foul weather clothing system.

GSSM Wet Weather Laminate

Inert Products, LLC displayed a wide variety of training aids including the M4 “rubber duck” as well as other inert training aids.

Inert Products LLC

Benchmade Knives showed a set of their HK signature knives packed inside a pistol case. The combo pack includes a 20-Tools-in-One mutli-tool, LED light, and Ally knife.

HK Combo Pak