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Archive for the ‘Helmets’ Category

US Army Awards Norotos $35 Mil Contract For Night Vision Mounts

Tuesday, March 27th, 2018

The US Army recently announced a $35 million contract for the Norotos RHNO II – Helmet Mount configured either for MICH/ACH helmet, or PASGT helmet, as follows:

PN 1955010-1 RHNO II Helmet Mount Assembly, PASGT

PN 1955010-2 RHNO II ACH Helmet Mount Assembly, MICH

Norotos Inc.,* Santa Ana, California, has been awarded a maximum $35,625,106 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for helmet mounts for night vision systems. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a March 23, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-18-D-0010).

www.norotos.com

Ops-Core Helmets Evaluated During Urban Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2018

Monday, March 26th, 2018

Last week, the Marine Corps conducted Urban Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2018 (Urban ANTX-18) at Camp Pendleton, California.

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During the exercise, Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division evaluated a wide variety of technologies, particularly visual augmentation equipment. But in every case, they were wearing Ops-Core helmets to protect the Marines’ heads and serve as a head Orne platform.

The helmets featured the new step-in visor, RAC headsets and soft mandibles.

(Photos by Lance Cpl. Rhita Daniel and Lance Cpl. Robert Alejandre)

Agilite – Hybrid SF Helmet Cover

Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

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Meet the Hybrid SF, the very latest helmet cover from Agilite. Designed to the exact specifications of SOF from a small country in the Middle East that shall remain nameless, it includes an integral PVS 31 battery pack/counterweight pouch, full upper retention, extended velcro areas and added accessory-securing points and it is 100% made in Israel.

The Hybrid SF is available for the Ops Core Ballistic XP and Ops Core  Super High Cut (Maritime) helmets in all sizes in Ranger Green and Multicam and for other helmet types and colours on request.

See more at www.agilitegear.com/helmetcovers/hybridsf.

Gentex Corporation Awarded Helmet Services and Support Contract for Bristow Helicopters U.K. SAR Bases

Friday, March 9th, 2018

Carbondale, PA, March 7, 2018.  Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel announced today it has been awarded a three-year contract from Bristow Helicopters Ltd (U.K.) to manage and perform maintenance on their U.K. inventory of Gentex’s ALPHA 900 Cross Platform Helmet Systems. Bristow provides Search and Rescue (SAR) services to the private sector worldwide, and to the public sector for all of the U.K. on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Under the terms of the contact, Gentex will have responsibility for the airworthiness of the Bristow inventory of aircrew helmets, which are exclusively ALPHA 900 Helmets. Support was customized to meet the Bristow SAR specific needs and includes technical services (helmet fitting, records management, and training) and sustainment support (preventative maintenance; repair, and spares inventory management).

“In addition to supplying Bristow SAR crews with our advanced ALPHA 900 Helmet Systems, we’re proud to now support them with technical services and sustainment support through our European operations,” said Robert McCay, vice president aircrew and aircraft maintainer systems, Gentex Corporation.

With customizable, on-site support, customers can be assured of responsive, flexible, quality service, and continuity of their supply. Additionally, this approach allows customers to maximise their inventory’s performance, while reducing overall stock holdings; reduce their cost of ownership with a fully integrated supply chain (one-stop-shop); and improve capabilities through Ad-Hoc tasking.

“Our SAR operations have relied on the consistent, high performance of Gentex’s ALPHA 900 Helmets for over 4 years,” said Russ Torbet, Director of U.K. SAR, Bristow Helicopters Ltd. “Now, with the addition of the complete helmet management and service support provision, we expect to be able to better meet and maintain our operational needs, while reducing our costs, and enhancing the safety of our SAR crews, operating in the most demanding environments.”

Technical services and sustainment support is available for all of Gentex’s brands, directly or through their authorized global distributors.

Gentex’s advanced, scalable, and highly configurable ALPHA 900 military helmet systems line includes the new ALPHA 900 Search and Rescue (SAR) Helmet System which was developed in partnership with Bristow. Adopted by the U.K. MoD, ALPHA 900 is the only aircrew helmet platform that supports both fixed and rotary wing applications, reducing the logistics trail for those responsible for supporting both helmet platforms.

www.gentexcorp.com

U.S. Army Awards 3M Additional $34 Million for Helmets of the Future

Friday, March 2nd, 2018

3M-designed Integrated Head Protection System is Army’s most advanced ballistic helmet to date

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – March 1, 2018 – The U.S. Army has awarded Ceradyne, Inc., a 3M company, an additional $34 million to continue supplying its ballistic helmet of the future. The Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) – which Popular Mechanics described as “straight out of science fiction” – uses advanced materials, an ultramodern design and add-on accessories to give soldiers greater comfort and advanced protection for modern missions. This brings Ceradyne’s total IHPS contract value to more than $52 million.

The U.S. Army created the highly technical IHPS to give soldiers a lighter-weight ballistic helmet with passive hearing protection and increased blunt-impact performance. It is a component of the Army’s next-generation Soldier Protection System (SPS) program, which seeks to optimize soldier protection while reducing total equipment weight.

“This order reinforces the Army’s confidence in 3M to design and produce the IHPS, which is so advanced, it sets a new global standard for head protection,” said Cheryl Ingstad, global business manager, Advanced Ceramics Platform – Defense, 3M.

The IHPS is designed to protect against modern battlefield threats, including powerful rifle projectiles and handgun bullets. It can be fitted with accessories, such as mandible, visor, night vision goggle attachment, rails and a modular ballistic applique for increased protection. 3M will begin delivery in early 2018 and will continue to deliver throughout the year.

For more information about 3M ballistic helmets, visit www.3M.com/ballistichelmets.

Sneak Peek – Warfare Frog Bump Helmet

Thursday, February 8th, 2018

Debuting at IWA from Warfare Frog, a new brand by Centurio Design.

SHOT Show 18 – Wilcox Ind WLS & WMS

Monday, February 5th, 2018

Wilcox showed two shrouds at SHOT Show.

First is the Wilcox Lightweight Shroud.

It is completely new and is 20% lighter than their standard three-hole Shroud.

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The other new Shroud is the Wilcox Modular Shroud.

Featuring the same construction as the WLS, it allows the user to configure the Shroud.

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The Lanyard can be moved as well as a tie down hole.

www.wilcoxind.com

SPARTANAT – Andres Industries AG is bringing Diamond Age to Europe

Monday, February 5th, 2018

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Andres Industries AG, hitherto known for its highly innovative thermal imaging systems (TIMRO-X, TILO-3 see SPARTANAT Review), starts a cooperation with the US company Diamond Age for the development of ballistic protection systems and takes over its European distribution. Diamond Age has been intensively involved in the development of new materials for many years and specializes in the production of high-performance ceramics for armour-plating.

At the IWA and EnforceTac in March, the company will be presenting the BASTION helmet it announced last year. This is characterized by an unequaled bullet-resistance up to the range of rifles (VPAM 7). Although thin special panels are used for this purpose, the total weight of the helmet remains below 1.9kg, i. e. it weighs no more than a normal fragment protection helmet.

Diamond-Age-3

But even without the additional VPAM-7 panels, the helmet achieves the protection class VPAM 3 with a lower weight of only approx. 930g (shell weight). In the lightest combat-ready version, the helmet weighs only 1.15kg. Another special feature is the very low back face deformation of only one centimeter (0.39″) when firing handgun ammunition (NIJ Level IIIa). This extremely low value will become increasingly important in the future, as recent studies show that it is often not enough to stop projectiles. It is equally important that the depression on the helmet caused by the projectile does not lead to a serious skull injury.

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Commenting on the new cooperation with Diamond Age, Andres Industries AG CEO, Björn Andres, said “For over a year we have been working intensively on ballistic protection systems and have built up a successful new business line. Most manufacturers, and we too, have so far been working mainly on new techniques to process existing materials better and better. We have found that we need to work more closely with developers of such materials because we need new and even better materials. With Diamond Age we have found such a partner. Where others stop at boron carbide, Diamond Age is just beginning.”

Andres Industries und Diamond Age auf den Messen in Nürnberg
 
EnforceTac from 7-8. March 2017 Hall 10 – 614
IWA vom 9-12. March Hall 9 – 405
Mehr Messe unter: www.nuernbergmesse.de/sicherheit
ANDRES INDUSTRIES:  www.andres-industries-shop.de
DIAMOND AGE: diamondage.org
SPARTANAT: www.spartanat.com