Intelligent Armour was approached by UKSF to develop a cover for the MICH helmet equipped with an Ops-Core VAS Shroud and Ops-Core ARC Rails. What they came up with looks fairly familiar. It is manufactured from a 2-Way stretch fabric and MultiCam mesh sides with printed Velcro loop on the top and rear.
www.body-armour-protection.co.uk/IA-UKSF-Multicam-Helmet-Cover
The new TNVC Base Jump Lanyard is specifically designed for the Ops Core Base Jump Helmet. It incorporates a Wilcox Retractable Lanyard Module and requires no modification to the helmet during installation. Drilling helmets is not endorsed by either TNVC nor Ops Core. The strap system features dual-sided micro hook/loop that sandwiches between the inner helmet shell and pads. The lanyard is held very secure, providing a low profile, elegant solution to retaining expensive Night Vision Goggles. The TNVC Base Jump Lanyard keeps your NVG’s from hitting the deck if the mount becomes dislodged during use. The system is available in black or tan and is available now.
ArmorSource has offered Government customers a sneak peek of their future Sidewinder Powered Helmet line. Utilizing their various helmet protection solutions, ArmorSource has added a Mil Std 1913 powered appliqué. Referred to as a powered accessory platform, it is an entirely new take on helmet rails. My understanding is that the removable batteries last for 10 hours and are rechargeable with standard 110 shore power.
Variants include standard ACH ballistic package versions as well as lightweight variants which include a carbon fiber outer shell in full, mid and high cuts. Look for more details soon.
We’ve talked about it before, Kit Up went into some detail about it. Now you can pre-order it. The bungee creates tension to maintain devices such as counter weights, IR strobes, IR devices, cables, etc. from coming loose when jumping or encountering high-wind conditions. Velcro is great but when it becomes dirty or worn it looses its grip, and paracord and hundred-mile-an-hour tape isn’t much help.
DR
This is an artist’s rendering of a new bump helmet from Team Wendy to be unveiled later this month at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida. Team Wendy actually started as a company to make sport helmets and then began to apply their materials know-how to padding systems for military helmets. Ultimately, they developed the Zorbium Action Pad system that is the only authorized shock absorbing padding system for US Army helmets. Since then, they’ve developed a couple of new helmet liner systems such as EPIC and have combined this latest liner technology with a bump shell designed specifically for tactical applications.
21st Tactical will refurbish your combat helmet and apply a camouflage finish as well as a UV matte top coat as part of the process. The process does not change the integrity of the helmet and can be resurfaced for turn in. Standard lead time is 3 to 5 business days.
Available patterns include MultiCam, ABU, A-TACS, and many other patterns and colors including skulls for your ACH, MICH, or any other Combat Helmet on the market.
Additional Items such as NVG mounts, rails and other hardware can be done as well for a nominal fee. Please contact 21st Tactical directly for additional colors and options.
21st Tactical has also generously offered a 10% discount to SSD readers for this process. To collect yours, use discount code “SoldierSystems” at checkout.
To order visit www.21sttactical.com/Fabrication.
MSA is selling their American ballistic helmet business unit. MSA purchased Gallet from the French when USSOCOM expressed interest in a predecessor to the helmet that became the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet and then by extension the Army’s Advanced Combat Helmet. This sale only affects their American helmet manufacture and NOT Gallet, their European producer of military and aviation helmets as well as protective helmets for firefighters and construction crews.
This comes as no surprise considering that they recently sold Paraclete, their body armor and load carriage business unit. Additionally, while MSA Gallet was once at the forefront of the the ballistic helmet business, there have been some major shifts in the works over the past two years. First, the Marine Corps and Army are both prepared to transition to a new helmet called the Enhanced Combat Helmet which relies on new production methodologies and new materials (polyethylene rather than the ACH’s aramid construction). Second, new modular designs such as those from Ops-Core are beginning to change the way we look at helmet design. It would take a great deal of investment for MSA to gain the upper hand in either one of these thrust areas. A sale at this point is most likely warranted, especially considering the statement below, from MSA that they want to move in a different direction.
Earlier today MSA announced it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell its North America ballistic helmet business. Terms of the deal and the potential purchaser’s name are not being disclosed but MSA expects to complete the transaction within the next 45 days.
The potential sale of this business is something the company has been considering for some time, said Joseph A. Bigler, President of MSA North America. “The decision to move in this direction came down to two factors: alignment with MSA’s long-term business strategy, and pursuing a course of action that provides our associates who work on our North American ballistic helmet line the best opportunity for future success,” Mr. Bigler said.
MSA entered the ballistic helmet market in 2003 following the company’s 2002 acquisition of French helmet manufacturer CFG Gallet, and subsequent contract awards from the U.S. Army to produce Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH), the current standard of issue for the U.S. Army. The company currently manufactures ballistic helmets at its Newport, Vermont manufacturing plant, which employs approximately 40 people.
Over the past five years MSA’s product strategy has increasingly focused on its “core” safety equipment product lines where the company has strong expertise, global R&D resources and vast market presence. MSA’s core product focus emphasizes industrial head protection, respiratory protective equipment, fall protection products, portable gas detection instruments and sensors, and fixed gas- and flame-detection systems.
“The competitive landscape for ballistic helmets has undergone tremendous change over the past several years, with multiple suppliers now intensely competing with MSA for this business,” Mr. Bigler said. “Quite simply, the manufacture of ballistic helmets for North American customers has become an increasingly challenging business for MSA and this drove our decision to explore alternative strategies for the business.”
In an agreement with the City of Boston earlier this week, Ops-Core will have 45 days to do assembly work, but no painting, in its space at Fort Point Studios. Simultaneously, it will move its operation to a new facility in Boston. This comes after recent tensions with artist-tenants at Fort Point Studios. I feel this is great for America and great for Ops-Core and great for their employees who will be back to work.
Personally, I hope the remaining tenants of Fort Point get exactly what they asked for. That mean old corporation (Ops-Core) that employs people and pays taxes and rent and stuff will go away. Now all that needs to happen is for the owners of the facility to get their tenants to step up and pay fair value for their flats. I hope they enjoy actually pulling their own weight.
