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USMC Canvases Industry For Integrated Helmet System

Friday, June 7th, 2019

This week, the Marine Corps Systems Command issued a Request for Information to Industry, seeking a Berry Amendment compliant Integrated Helmet System.

Just last year, the Marines evaluated mid and high cut helmets during Urban Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2018 (Urban ANTX-18) at Camp Pendleton, California and purchased a small number of Enhanced Combat Helmets in these shapes for further testing.

The Marine Corps envisions IHS as a lightweight helmet system (includes shell, suspension, retention system, and other mounting devices) that will provide an integrated head protection platform for infantry and infantry-like Marines. The IHS will be employed by male and female Marines under various environmental conditions for long durations in conjunction with other gear and equipment. With the increased number of battery powered optics and other attachments to the helmet, the amount of exposed/unsecure wires and battery packs are increasing. The Marine Corps is looking for an optimized configuration to allow power and/or data to flow to the attachments while minimizing bulk.

In addition to a universal, modular mounting system for all components that allows for compatibility with legacy and future capabilities, IHS must be compatible with the following:
– Communications/hearing protection
– Night Vision Devices including external battery components
– Power cable management or power transfer
– Eye protection
– CBRN Equipment (mask and cover)
– Standard Marine Corps clothing
– Oxygen mask
– Rail system to mount ancillary devices
– Body armor
– USMC Pack

Here are the desired ballistic capabilities of IHS:

Minimum V50 BL(P)s

Additionally, the finished helmet, including any hardware exposed on the outside of the shell (if hardware is used for any attachments), shall be resistant to penetration from a 9 mm FMJ RN bullet at 1400 (+50, –0)ft/sec at 0° obliquity.

IHS must also protect from bump or blunt impacts. At a minimum, no individual acceleration shall exceed 150 G (gravitational constant) at 10ft/s. Greater impact protection (i.e., fewer G) is desired.

Below are the maximum weights by size.

Once again, the Marines plan to use Mid Tear Acquisition to conduct an “Other Transaction Agreement (OTA)” a process which is being used more and more to quickly test and field mature technologies and equipment. In the event a contract is awarded, the minimum order will be 24,000 IHS, delivered within one year of First Article approval.

Those interested have until 5 July, 2019, at 11:59 Eastern to submit.

Posted in Contracts, Helmets, MARCORSYSCOM, Medical | Comments Off on USMC Canvases Industry For Integrated Helmet System

Ops-Core Mission Configurable Helmet Cover

Thursday, June 6th, 2019

If you’re using a U.S. Army ACH, USMC MICH Type II, or Gentex Low Cut Tactical Ballistic Helmet and aren’t allowed to configure it with ARC rails and a night vision shroud, then the Mission Configurable Helmet Cover is your answer.

The cover incorporates these features: Ops-Core Skeleton One-Hole Shroud, ACH Skeleton ARCs with bungees, and exterior VELCRO brand fasteners for other accessories.

The shroud is attached through the single hole in the helmet and the ARC rails are securely attached to the cover which is held in place with multiple strips of VELCRO. These have been fielded by multiple organizations and work.

They are offered to fit the corresponding helmet size and can be had in a multitude of colors and camouflage patterns.

shop.gentexcorp.com/ops-core-mission-configurable-helmet-cover

Posted in Advertiser, Helmets | 6 Comments »

Team Wendy Releases All-Terrain And Ballistic Mandibles

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019

New EXFIL® Ballistic / SL Accessories Provide Full-Face Protection

Cleveland-based Team Wendy®, which researches and develops high-quality headborne systems from the inside out, announced the launch of two new helmet accessories today: the EXFIL® All-Terrain Mandible and the EXFIL Ballistic Mandible. The mandibles attach tool-free to the EXFIL Ballistic and EXFIL Ballistic SL helmets fitted with either the EXFIL Rail 2.0 or EXFIL Rail 3.0 accessory mounting systems. Each mandible is designed to allow the operator to establish a cheek weld with his/her weapon, and when paired with the EXFIL Ballistic Visor, they provide full-face protection.

“The new EXFIL mandibles offer scalable, lightweight protection and attach quickly and easily to the helmet rail system, allowing the operator to be mission-ready in seconds,” said Team Wendy CEO Jose Rizo-Patron. “In designing this new ballistic helmet accessory, it was important for us to engineer a soft mandible option so that the operator can still deploy his or her weapon with ease and accuracy; this is critical for military and law enforcement.”

The EXFIL All-Terrain Mandible protects the face and ears against blunt impact and debris. Weighing 0.71 pounds (320 grams), it is composed of a vented nose piece, a VN vented foam insert, and a glass-reinforced polycarbonate and TPU frame. The outer cover is made of mesh and ultra-suede. The EXFIL All-Terrain Mandible meets blunt impact performance in accordance with Team Wendy impact test protocol TW-TP-1901 (10 and 14.1 ft/s NOCSAE drop, 150G max).

The EXFIL Ballistic Mandible shields the face and ears from fragmentation and blunt impact. Its ballistic coverage area is 72.03 square inches (464.70 square centimeters), and it meets a performance standard of 17gr V50 greater than or equal to 2,400 ft/s (731 m/s) and 9mm V0 greater than or equal to 1,400 ft/s (427 m/s). Like the all-terrain mandible, blunt impact performance is also in accordance with Team Wendy impact test protocol TW-TP-1901.

The ballistic mandible weighs 1.30 pounds (590 grams) and comes standard with two interchangeable nose pieces: a ballistic nose with a Cordura® and nylon/spandex cover and a non-ballistic, all-terrain nose with vents to allow additional airflow. The ballistic nose is made of a proprietary composite matrix, and the frame is glass-reinforced polycarbonate and TPU. The ballistic insert is composed of flexible ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabrics in a nylon/TPU cover. The outer cover is made of Cordura and ultra-suede.

The EXFIL All-Terrain Mandible and EXFIL Ballistic Mandible retail at $265 and $492, respectively. They come in two sizes, size one and size two, corresponding to the operator’s EXFIL Ballistic or EXFIL Ballistic SL helmet size. Each is offered in four colors: Black, Coyote Brown, MultiCam® and Ranger Green. Both mandibles are now available for purchase on TeamWendy.com and through authorized Team Wendy dealers.

Learn more at www.TeamWendy.com.

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See Team Wendy at SOF Select

Saturday, May 18th, 2019

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Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset Selected By USSOCOM To Modernize SOF Communications

Friday, May 17th, 2019

New technology in configurable headset delivers 3D Hear-Through and advanced hearing protection for combat operations.

May 16, 2019

Carbondale, PA, May 16, 2019. Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel was selected by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for its Ops-Core® Adaptive Mission Platform (AMP™) Communication Headset as part of the Communication Accessory Suite Land (CASL) program. The AMP headset features 3D Hear-Through Technology, which restores and enhances the operator’s “natural hearing” of the outside environment for improved situational awareness in high noise environments, while also providing robust hearing protection with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 22db.

The Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset pushes the boundaries of operator configurability with a modular design that can be changed quickly from headband to helmet-rail mounted use and includes removable connectorized downleads with options for single, dual, or no downlead configurations. Additionally, the immersion rated, noise-canceling boom microphone can be swapped to the user’s preference of earcup, without the use of tools, or removed entirely.

“Listening to end users and responding to their evolving needs has fueled Ops-Core’s heritage of innovation, which is evident again in the configurable AMP Headset,” said Peter Harbeck, SOF Business Development Manager, Gentex Corporation. “Our business development and product management team, comprised mainly of former and current end users, are dedicated to upholding the mission of Ops-Core—getting elite forces the products they need to keep them safe and enhance their mission effectiveness.”

Additional features of the Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset include optional wire-free, battery-free, Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) Earplugs, which increase the systems NRR to 34dB, while maintaining clear-communication audio and ambient hear through.

“We’re proud to continue to support the military in combating the issues of operating in high noise environments with our latest communications and hearing protection technology,” added Tom Short, Vice President Ground Systems, Gentex Corporation. “Based on decades of experience with military communications and hearing protection, Gentex also provides the Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset for the F-35 program.”

The Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset will be on display in the Operator Pavilion during SOFIC 2019, May 20-23 in Tampa, Florida.

Part of Gentex Corporation’s portfolio for defense, emergency response, and security forces, the focus and dedication of the company’s Ops-Core brand remains the same –protecting elite forces. The modular, scalable, open-architecture design of Ops-Core products allow for seamless integration and true system level performance.

www.ops-core.com

Posted in Advertiser, Comms, Contracts, Helmets, Press Release, SOF | 4 Comments »

Gentex Awarded Contract for USSOCOM Next Generation SOF Helmets

Friday, May 17th, 2019

Ops-Core helmet system delivers true system-level performance and innovation

May 16, 2019

Carbondale, PA, May 16, 2019. Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel, announced today that its Ops-Core® FAST helmet system was chosen by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to fulfill their contract for Special Operations Forces Personal Equipment Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) Family of Tactical Headborne Systems (FTHS) — Ballistic and Non-Ballistic Helmets.

Gentex Corporation has supplied helmets and accessories driven by user input from special operations forces for SOCOM since the introduction of the Para Master High Altitude Low Opening (PM HALO) helmet in 2005 and the acquisition of Ops-Core Inc. in 2011. As the incumbent in the highly competitive bid process, Gentex Corporation received the award through full and open competition. The company utilized the latest design and technological innovations of its Ops-Core FAST SF helmet to deliver a high performing FTHS system that features improved comfort, increased stability, reduced personal signature, greater system integration and a significant weight reduction over currently fielded Ops-Core FAST helmets.

“We’re honored to have been chosen again to deliver the next generation of helmet systems for SOCOM Operators,” said Tom Short, vice president Ground Systems, Gentex Corporation. “Working directly with current operators to understand their needs, plus continued investments in cutting-edge technologies has enabled us to deliver the most advanced, innovative solutions to USSOCOM and other global defense, emergency response, and security forces.”

The new SPEAR FTHS helmet system comes in ballistic and non-ballistic versions, each compatible with all current USSOCOM headborne accessories. Separate from FTHS, new modular Ops-Core accessories include an NVG compatible Step-In Visor, a range of mandibles (including ballistic, non-ballistic, and force-on-force), and a scalable two-piece ballistic applique for the non-ballistic helmet which provides the same level of ballistic protection as the FTHS ballistic helmet. The commercially available ballistic version of the helmet system, the Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut Helmet System, will be on display in the company’s booth at SOF Select in the Operator Pavilion during SOFIC 2019, May 20 – 23 in Tampa, Florida.

Part of Gentex Corporation’s portfolio for defense, emergency response, and security forces, the focus and dedication of the company’s Ops-Core brand remains the same –protecting elite forces. The modular, scalable, open-architecture design of Ops-Core products allows for seamless integration and true system level performance.

www.ops-core.com

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, Helmets, Press Release, SOF | Comments Off on Gentex Awarded Contract for USSOCOM Next Generation SOF Helmets

Canadian DND Exercises $33m Ballistic Helmet Contract With NP Aerospace

Thursday, May 16th, 2019

Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) has issued full options on a $33 million combat helmet contract with Canadian armour technology manufacturer, NP Aerospace.

The contract is for supply and delivery of the CM735 lightweight ballistic helmet and spare components over a seven-year period.

NP Aerospace has supplied combat helmets to the Canadian DND since 2015. The CM735 helmet is designed and manufactured using advanced composite technology to deliver greatly improved ballistic and fragment protection with a weight reduction of 25 percent from the CG634 helmet. Its structural design also helps avoid severe injury from back face deformation and impact to the head when hit by fragments and bullets.

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, comments: “We are honoured to continue to supply our ballistic helmets to the Canadian Armed Forces and are proud of our long-standing partnership providing the highest quality body armour. This contract is among many with Canada which has allowed us to innovate and enhance our global product offerings. The next generation technology within the CM735 helmet, for example, has benefited the development of our composite spall liner which is now used in military vehicles across the world.”

NP Aerospace manufactures a range of full and high cut helmets as part of its Lightweight Armoured Soldier Architecture (LASA®) portfolio. The CM735 composite helmet shell has a weight of less than 920 grams (32 ounces) while providing ballistic protection against fragments and NIJ Level 3A hand gun rounds. Its low weight significantly improves user performance while reducing fatigue. The LASA portfolio also includes hard body armour plates and shields for a range of threats including covert operations as well as various rifle bullets.

Posted in Contracts, Helmets, International, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Warrior West 19 – Norotos Lo-Sto Combi Helmet Mount

Wednesday, May 15th, 2019

The Lo-Sto Combi Helmet Mount From Norotos is a new variant which allows the user to raise the Mount by pushing up on it, at which point it locks into the vertical, stowed position. To bring the NVG back down into position, the user must depress the push button on the side of the mount. Like the standard model, it weighs 4.8 oz. (136 grams) and is only 2.35” when folded.

Norotos products are available for agency and unit order through ADS.

Posted in ADS, Helmets, Optics, Warrior Expo | Comments Off on Warrior West 19 – Norotos Lo-Sto Combi Helmet Mount