I think this is a pretty cool graphic depicting the various attributes of XGO’s FR T-shirts.
Here is the application of Massif’s new Battlefield X technology. This FR fleece jacket features a WL Gore membrane for wind and water protection.
Innovative FR nylon-face fabric provides all the benefits of the best water resistant outdoor fabrics while meeting the ASTM F2302/ASTM D6413 standard for flame resistance.
Massif announces the commercial introduction of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics, two revolutionary new nylon-faced, flame resistant, water resistant laminates for the military and tactical markets.
Nylon garments have a long history of field-proven outdoor performance, yet have never before provided adequate flame resistance. Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics offer a shift in FR protection by combining filament nylon-faced laminates with exceptional FR protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics provide excellent durability, water resistance, breathability, flame protection, stretch, and warmth-to-weight ratio. There is simply nothing like the Battleshield fabrics on the market; they perform as well as other non-FR outdoor fabric in the industry and provide exceptional flame protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X feature Gore® FR stretch technology, which dramatically increases breathability while simultaneously improving water repellency and water entry pressure. The result is an extremely durable, highly breathable fabric with a superior warmth-to-weight ratio that is very water resistant and fully flame resistant. “Gore has played a pivotal role in providing best in class durable, breathable and environmentally protective products to the U.S. military,” says Mark Miller, Product Specialist at Gore. “We are excited to be working with Massif and bringing this product line to the warfighting community. Unlike any other flame-resistant, water resistant softshell fabrics, Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics featuring Gore® FR stretch technology compete with the very best technical performance softshell fabrics on the market today.”
Over the past year, every branch of the United States military has been evaluating either Massif Battleshield or Battleshield X fabrics. “We’re getting some very exciting feedback from our military partners,” said Dave Bywater, Vice President of Government Sales at Massif. “It’s gratifying to be able to provide garments and fabrics that improve comfort and durability, increase life cycle costs, and provide the best flash-fire protection possible for our soldiers.”
Some of the key benefits of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics are:
BREATHABILITY/COMFORT – With unsurpassed breathability, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics can dramatically increase the warfighter’s overall comfort. In high-activity situations Massif’s unique fabrics, in combination with Gore’s breathable, stretch membrane, reduce overheating and chilling from moisture retention and reduces user fatigue, ultimately keeping soldiers dryer, safer, and more effective in a wider range of situations and temperatures.
DURABILITY – The nylon face fabric of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide superior durability when compared to traditional FR fabrics on the market today. In fact, for its weight, Battleshield is likely the most durable FR fabric on the market today. This extreme durability can significantly reduce life cycle costs as compared to other FR materials.
WEATHER PROTECTION/WATER RESISTANCE – Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide exceptional water resistance by combining Gore’s breathable, stretch membrane with a technically superior face fabric that will not absorb or retain water as with conventional cellulosic-based fabrics.
STRETCH/FUNCTIONALITY – With multidirectional stretch, a key feature of any high-quality outdoor garment, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics offer excellent mobility and comfort.
FLAME RESISTANCE/BURN PROTECTION – These truly revolutionary synthetic fabrics have all of the benefits of high-quality outdoor softshell fabrics while meeting the stringent requirements of ASTM F2302/ASTM D6413 and showing extremely low Burn Injury Prediction when tested on a manikin per ASTM F1930.
Massif will begin using Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics in its Massif Elements Tactical Jacket. Plans for using these fabrics in US military and tactical garments are underway.
The Applied Orange FR-UBAX is the only commercially available combat shirt made entirely out of TenCate Defender M fabrics in A-TACS camouflage.
The FR-UBAX incorporates inset bicep pockets. Offered in sizes Small – 3XLarge, the torso is made from an FR knit in OD.
The US Army is looking for qualified vendors with improvements to the improved Combat Vehicle Crewman (iCVC) coverall that may be utilized to develop design and specification enhancements for the new enhanced Combat Vehicle Crewman (eCVC).

In this US Army photo you can see the current iCVC which saw evolutionary improvements over the previous legacy design which goes back to at least the 1970s. It is an FR one-piece garment that is also issued in OCP (MultiCam).
The Sources Sought Notice released yesterday by the Natick SSC Contracting Office on behalf of US Army Product Manager, Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-SCIE) eCVC will consolidate the capability requirements of the one-piece improved Combat Vehicle Crewman (iCVC) Coverall into a single uniform and other enhancements over the current iCVC.
The eCVC shall be a two piece uniform ensemble which can be joined together creating a one piece coverall which does not compromise FR protection.
The eCVC two piece configurations shall allow the Mounted Soldier the ability to have more functional movement in a dismounted position with a full combat load and utilize the Army Combat Shirt (ACS) when in a dismounted operation, as well as reduce heat burden.
The big issue here is that they want to make the CVC a two-piece garment that can be converted into a one-piece. This is to enhance cooling and comfort. Additionally, we understand that there is interest in combining the Army Aircrew Combat Uniform (A2CU) with the CVC to reduce the burden on the supply chain.
Interested parties should respond by 1200 EST on 1 February 2013.
Applied Orange sourced a few yards of TenCate Defender-M in both A-TACS AU and FG. They made two sample FR-UBAX and have been taking them around Europe to some very positive feedback.
This is a European made combat shirt. It features double bicep pockets; an outer flapped pocket as well as an inset zippered pocket.
We continue our coverage of WL Gore’s various technologies and their military applications with Pyrad. It’s a self-extinguishing fabric technology that adds heat and flame protection properties to non-FR textiles.
First unveiled at last year’s AUSA, Gore Pyrad is one of the most exciting new technologies I’ve seen. It offers enhanced heat and flame protection using non-FR textiles. Think about that. You can still have performance of the fabrics you are comfortable with yet enhance their capabilities by incorporating an FR coating. Now the Pyrad technology has to be applied to the fabric prior to being assembled into finished goods so Pyrad won’t do anything for gear you already own, but could be a great option for future purchases.
Gore takes standard nylon, polyester and other fabrics and hardens them through laminating the Pyrad technology. This allows them to exploit all of the basic fabric’s strengths like nylon’s fast dry out times as well as enhanced camouflage through colorfastness and enhanced UV resistance. Additionally, not only is Pyrad resistant to flame but also self-extinguishing.
If you are attending AUSA this week in Wash DC be sure to visit the Gore Military booth #2925 to check out Pyrad. Additionally, ADS has incorporated Pyrad into their Dismounted FREE system so visit booth #2413 to take a look at an application of Pyrad. If you can’t make it, keep an eye out here on SSD where we’ll continue to show you new applications of the Pyrad technology.