With helmets and their accessories costing more and more it’s no surprise that someone would come with a purpose built bag. FirstSpear’s Helmet Hut accommodates a helmet in a padded compartment and also has zippered storage for goggles, mounts, lights, NVGs and other gear.
Check it out in booth #27411.
Designed as part of a TSWG program, the Law Enforcement Tactical Helmet integrates a pull down Mil Spec visor. While it offers no frag rating it does stop 9mm and .44 mag at less than one inch back face deformation!
In a press release, Gentex has announced their purchase of Ops-Core, one of the most innovative tactical companies in the market. We have long been impressed with both their vision and execution of headborne armor systems. Recently, their designs have been selected to protect American as well as Allied personnel and with this they have grown in both size as well as importance. We are pleased to see that Gentex has chosen to expand their offerings with the acquisition of Ops-Core and we feel it will be not only a great fit, but also good for the personnel and units who rely on Ops-Core for their helmets. Congratulations!
Two companies, focused on serving the modern war fighter, have joined today to deliver sophisticated personal protective equipment for elite military units around the world. Ops-Core, Inc., located in Boston, MA, was acquired this week by Gentex Corporation, a long-standing global leader in personal protection and situation awareness products. This agreement reflects a passion to deliver industry-leading solutions shared by both firms.
“Foremost, Ops-Core customers will benefit from the strategic nature of this business transaction,†stated David Rogers, former Ops- Core Chief Executive Officer and new Vice President of Concept Development at Gentex. “Meeting the growing demand and supply of our products with shorter lead times will be supported by Gentex’s substantial manufacturing capabilities,†Rogers explained, “while delivering improved technology solutions for our existing customer base.â€
“Accelerating our combined capabilities to successfully meet the increasing demands of the modern warfighter is essential to our business strategy in today’s competitive defense marketplace and is a true convergence of our business strengths,†said L. Peter Frieder, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Gentex Corporation. “Ops-Core is already well known for producing the world’s first and only fully modular helmet platform for ground forces with the ability to meet the U.S. Army’s protective standards with excellent stability, low weight and comfort. Gentex has a proven and long-standing presence in aircrew helmet systems for high-speed jet and rotary wing customers who rely upon integrated night vision, communications and other situation awareness technologies; along with comprehensive skills in advanced materials science and engineering. Having access to such technologies and resulting capabilities will provide Ops-Core’s special operations customers with the ultimate choice of solutions for every mission scenario.â€
“In the future, existing Ops-Core products fielded by elite warfighters could easily expand Gentex’s core offerings to more traditional ground forces,†added John Pullo, Vice President of Ground Systems, Gentex.
Gentex has been involved with every advance of Ground and Combat Vehicle Crew protection for the last 50 years, delivering over 1.5 million helmets to such programs as U.S. Army Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH), U.S. Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet, Combat Vehicle Crew (CVC) Helmet and Personnel Protective Armor System Ground Troops (PASGT) Helmet, as well as supplying eye and face protection, communications and other helmet accessories.
Ops-Core was founded in 2005 by David and Viktoria Rogers. David will lead the location and work closely with Gentex’s key business, operations and technical personnel, while Viktoria will remain in an active leadership role at Ops-Core to ensure a seamless transition for customers and employees. Ops-Core will remain at its current Boston location and retain its operations, vendors and employees.
Customers may visit with Ops-Core and Gentex personnel, by appointment only, at the upcoming SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, from January 17-20, 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Booth #8111.
The US Army dropped a presolicitation over the holiday break for an “Advanced Combat Helmet Maxillofacial System.” According to the FBO posting it is a set aside for small business and must not change the standard ACH:
“Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) is looking for a commercially available product that can provide ballistic, blast and blunt impact protection in the maxillofacial region to increase soldier survivability. The system must be able to integrated on the current Advanced Combat Helmet and provide modularity which allows for commanders in the field to either wear the face shield or ballistic mandible separately or as an integrated system. The maxillofacial system shall not change the current form, fit, function of the helmet and maintain the current helmet sizing profile.”
Sounds like it might just be written for MTek Weapon Systems’ G-Series Faceshields. Their FAST G3A has been purchased in limited numbers by the Rapid Equipping Force and used by cupola gunners in combat.
The Army intends to procure only one type of system with an initial quantity of one hundred and sixty (160) systems will be procured with options for an additional two thousand (2,000) systems. The actual RFP will come out on 13 January and offerors will have until 14 February to reply.
There is a replica AirFrame helmet on the market now. Hopefully, it won’t be a problem for anybody who wants to use it for real world use as the manufacturer even states that it is only intended for display use. However, the fact that there are replica helmets out there is reason enough to put out an alert. Make sure the helmet and other PPE you purchased or were issued is the real deal. Generally, this isn’t a problem if you were issued the equipment new through RFI or CIF. However, if it’s a reissue take a hard look at it. There is nothing to say that someone before you didn’t turn in a cheap knockoff in order to clear. Sometimes, these copies, which are generally built for MilSim use are very well executed and can fool someone who isn’t looking for a fake.
If you are purchasing your gear from an off base outfitter or through the web, give it the once over before you put it into service.
It’s hard to find a SOF unit that doesn’t use Adventure Lights and, occasionally, you’ll see a VIP light attached to a helmet in one field expedient fashion or another. Up until now, there hasn’t been a purpose built solution to affix your VIP light to your helmet. This new mount gives a solid platform to mount the VIP light to helmet via Velcro. Additionally, the mount is available in two configurations. The one-way bezel will not allow the user to accidentally trigger a visual light function, while the two-way bezel allows the user to start from a visual or IR setting.
Adventure Lights VIP Helmet Mount
Made in Canada, both mounts are available in Black as well as the new Tan color which will soon be a standard color on all lights.
Adventure Lights are available through www.adsinc.com.
One category where the GoPro HERO series of cameras excels is in their wide variety of mounting options, which includes the GoPro NVG Mount. With it, one can easily attach either the HERO or HERO2 to any helmet with a Night Vision mounting plate, allowing them to record excellent footage without installing any additional mounts on their equipment. Here, you can see it mounted to a Crye Precision AirFrame Helmet with an Ops-Core VAS Shroud.
This article originated on Tactical Fanboy
Team Wendy has introduced their new EPIC Combat Helmet Liner System. It incorporates three main pads (front, rear and crown) for impact protection, an assortment of new ergonomically designed comfort pads and patent-pending Air Channeling technology to keep you cooler. EPIC Air is offered in two styles to fit standard cut as well as high cut helmets. It is compatible with all styles of communications headsets and offered in two sizes.
Don’t forget, the Team Wendy ZAP pads remain the only authorized helmet pads for DoD use. Even though the new EPIC Air Combat Helmet Liner System exceeds standards set forth in blunt impact protection requirements of the Advanced Combat Helmet (AR/PD 10-02) it is not authorized for use.
