Here are the drawings for the new FILBE pack for the USMC. While there’s currently a solicitation on the street for the pack, someone’s going to make a killing offering these commercially in OCP (MultiCam).
Archive for the ‘MARCORSYSCOM’ Category
USMC FILBE Pack Drawings
Saturday, July 23rd, 2011JIEDDO Helmet Pad Report
Friday, June 3rd, 2011Earlier this year Lawrence Livermore National Lab issued a report on the issue helmet pad’s performance in mitigating impact injuries to the head commissioned by the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and funded partially by the US Army. The main stream media made much of the researcher’s investigation of NFL helmet pads.
According to LLNL, “Five types of pad systems were studied-those currently and previously used by the Army, two used in NFL helmets, and one used in other protective sports equipment. The two Army systems consist of bilayer (hard-soft) foam pads within a water-resistant airtight wrapper or coating. One NFL system consists of a thin foam pad and a hollow air-filled cylinder that buckles under load, and the other is a bilayer foam pad surrounded by a covering with air-relief channels that connect to adjacent pads in the helmet. The fifth pad consists of uniform dense foam.”
Researchers Mike King’s and Willy Moss’s conclusion? None of the other pads out perform the current issue pad. In fact, NFL pads are not as soft as military pads, allowing larger forces to be transferred to the head.
Ultimately, the two scientists found that by increasing the thickness of current pads by just 1/8″ would significantly decrease the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury. While this answer sounds simple enough, it raises a serious issue. That extra 1/8″ of padding would require most everyone to go up one helmet size.
Unfortunately, the research was accomplished in support of ACH standards rather than against the energy levels associated with the new Enhanced Combat Helmet (.30) threat. Until this issue can be dealt with the ECH is ultimately just an expensive ACH. As lead service for the ECH program, the USMC has yet to unveil any plans at all on how to deal with the increased kinetic energy associated with the higher caliber threat.
Read the full report here:
Breaking News – USMC to Buy New Pack
Friday, April 8th, 2011The USMC has just released a presolicitation notice for a new pack system to replace the current ILBE. This will be a full and open competition with no set asides. The Marines have been looking for some time for a new pack and there have been quite a few rumblings in industry that it would be a government owned design rather than a competition for a completely new, commercially derived design. Expect it to resemble MOLLE more than ILBE. There is an odd bit in the presolicitation that sort of promises a chance to see a pack that sort of looks like the model they want. “Interested offerors are further advised that MARCORSYSCOM, PM ICE, may host a USMC Pack sample viewing during the week of 6 June 2011 (date is tentative) at a location still yet to be determined. This event will be strictly for the purpose of viewing a like-USMC Pack model – which is not an exact representation of the product detailed in subject solicitation.” It is perplexing that they know what the pack looks like that they want but that they don’t have any prototypes of it. This hardly engenders confidence in the process.
According to the solicitation, “The USMC Pack system is specifically intended to provide the Marine with a load carriage system that fully integrates with currently fielded body armor systems. The estimated maximum quantity is 245,721 USMC Pack systems in addition to associated sustainment components.”
Furthermore, the actual solicitation is expected to be released in the next 60 days and “The Government anticipates awarding Firm Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts to no more than two (2) offerors that are each capable of producing at least 123,000 Pack systems within twelve (12) months of contract award. Each ID/IQ contract will cover a five (5) year ordering period. Evaluation factors will be set forth in the forthcoming solicitation. Potential offerors are advised that Evaluation will require offerors to submit a minimum of (2) product demonstration models for compliance to a USMC Pack system drawing package and product description (PD).”
Interestingly, the Purchase Description also speaks of a “Family of Load Bearing Equipment (FILBE)” that will be available in the following patterns and colors:
Class 1 – Coyote Brown 498
Class 2 – Woodland MARPAT
Class 3 – Desert MARPAT
Class 4 – Snow MARPAT
Class 5 – OCP
Class 6 – Tan 499
Details of the pack’s design are still a mystery but we expect it to include the following features/components:
A) USMC Pack
a. Main Pack
(1) Frame
(2) Shoulder Harness Assembly
(3) Hip Belt
(4) Main Bag
b. Assault Pack
c. Assault Pouch
d. Sustainment Pouch (Qty. 2)
e. Hydration Pouch (Qty. 2)
f. Hydration Carrier
g. Hydration Bladder System
(1) Hydration Bladder
(2) Hydration Tube with cover
(3) Hydration Bite Valve with cover
h. Sternum Cinch
i. Sub-Belt (also known as “Girth Hip Beltâ€)
j. Repair Kit
k. Care and Use Manual
FILBE will also include the following components:
B) Chest Rig
a. USMC Chest Rig
C) USMC Equipment Pouches
D) USMC Holster
E) USMC Corpsman Assault Pack
F) Individual Water Purification System
Based on information we received from multiple sources we believe the frame to be the Down East 1606 frame first developed for the Army’s airborne community but as of yet still unfielded by that service. Additionally, the sternum cinch sounds mysteriously like the Mystery Ranch, Mystery Cinch. That’s because it is!, at least according to the Purchase Description although it adds that pesky “or equivalent”.
USMC Delayed Green Lasers for Iraq
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011Wired online recently published a story based on a DoD IG report on the Marine Corps’ delay in fielding lasers for use at vehicle checkpoints in Iraq. Lasers work. It’s just too bad that bureaucracy reared its head. You will note that the Wired online article blames the Pentagon, when in fact the blame lay at the feet of the Marine Corps. And while this story isn’t exactly new, it is worth reading. Unfortunately, the writer didn’t do a good job of explaining the “why” as in “why troops might need green lasers”. When you are writing for a civilian readership that lives fat, dumb, and happy under the protective umbrella of the military yet at the same time abhors it, you have to lead them by the nose since they have zero frame of reference. The author says it in a roundabout way, but he doesn’t beat the readers over the head with it. So you get comments by the uninformed who think that green lasers are being used as weapons when in fact they are used to save lives as a nonlethal alternative to warning shots. In fact, they are now used by ALL services as part of their Escalation of Force Kits. But, probably the real tragedy in this story is that as the request languished in someone’s inbox, leaning forward in the foxhole I MEF purchased systems off-the-shelf. Of course, once the systems got to Iraq, someone in a position to do so directed I MEF to cease use of the systems. To add insult to injury, the recently released IG report recommends that the Marines investigate the purchase and “if appropriate, initiate administrative action.â€
Visit www.wired.com for the story and read the comments. These will give you an idea of why we don’t open up ours.
Marines Purchase Additional Extreme Cold Weather Gear Using PrimaLoft Insulation
Friday, December 17th, 2010
PrimaLoft® Insulation Technologyâ„¢, the research and development leader in high performance insulations used to enhance combat conditions for soldiers, has announced that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has purchased 6,000 additional sets of the USMC Extreme Cold Weather Parkas, Trousers and Booties insulated with PrimaLoft® to equip U.S. Marines stationed in the coldest areas of Afghanistan and across the globe. This new buy brings the total number of system sets currently fielded to Marines to 50,000. Known to Marines as the “Happy Suit” the garments are manufactured by Wild Things Tactical.
Developed in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps, PrimaLoft® insulation provides Marines with critical tactical advantages over the enemy during the most challenging extreme cold weather conditions. The Extreme Cold Weather Parka, Trouser and Booties insulated with PrimaLoft® are packable, lightweight, weather resistant, and very warm for extreme combat conditions. Notably, this technology works in conjunction with the USMC sleeping bag system also outfitted with PrimaLoft® insulation and allows Marines to carry a less bulky sleep system, while increasing protection under diverse environmental conditions.
“PrimaLoft® takes great pride in our work to provide the best possible insulation technology to meet U.S. Marine Corps mission readiness needs,†said PrimaLoft® Vice-President and General Manager Joe Rumiesz. “We began working with the DoD 25 years ago, and we continue to advance our unique technology to address the specialized gear needs of our men and women in uniform.â€
The U.S. Army originally commissioned Albany International Corp. to develop a water resistant synthetic alternative to down. Today, PrimaLoft® is the premier supplier of insulation to the United States Army, Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces providing them with a tactical advantage over the enemy under exceptionally wet and cold conditions in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Marines Revamping FSBE
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010MARCORSYSCOM has issued a Sources Sought Notice for companies capable of “designing, developing, and procuring an Improved Armor Carrier Suite (IACS) that may be incorporated within the Full Spectrum Battle Equipment (FSBE).” The RFI goes on to state that, “The notional suite would consist of the following: one (1) Releasable Tactical Vest (RTV), one (1) Releasable Plate Carrier (RPC), one (1) Low-Visibility Tactical Vest (LVTV) and one (1) Low-Visibility Plate Carrier (LVPC) that support/integrate the respective armor cuts, identified hard armor inserts/ancillary armor additions and load carriage systems.” So basically, not only are they looking to update the armor carrier but also add some additional capability.
Descriptions of each component from the RFI:
The RTV will support SPEAR profile soft armor. The RTV must integrate with the SPEAR MSAP soft armor/pouches (Groin and Deltoid), SPEAR Releasable Ballistic Armored Vest (RBAV) Collar Armor System (CAS) and Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) lower back protector.
The carrier will posses PALS webbing for the mounting of modular pouches, have a single pull release located on the center of the vest below the neckline and integrate with the USMC Chest Rig without impeding the quick release of the carrier. The RTV must integrate with the USMC IMTV cummerbund and incorporate it into the release of the system without additional hardware or procedures. The RTV will incorporate an optional internal cummerbund to mitigate load. When used, the internal cummerbund will not interfere with the release of the system. The RTV will provide for an optional cummerbund that must support the carriage of the SPEAR MSAP 6×6 plate and allow for adjustment.
The RPC will support USMC PC profile soft armor. The RPC must integrate with the SPEAR MSAP soft armor/pouches (Groin and Deltoid) and IMTV lower back protector. The RPC will posses PALS webbing for the mounting of modular pouches. The RPC will have a single pull release that is identical in location, function and assembly to that of the RTV. The RPC must have the option to be worn without a cummerbund while still maintaining single pull release capability. When worn with a cummerbund, the RPC must integrate with the USMC Chest Rig without impeding the quick release of the carrier. The RPC must integrate with the USMC IMTV cummerbund and incorporate it into the release of the system without additional hardware or procedures. The RPC will provide for an optional cummerbund that must support the carriage of the SPEAR MSAP 6×6 plate and allow for adjustment.
The LVTV will support SPEAR profile soft armor. The LVTV must integrate with the SPEAR MSAP soft armor/pouches (Groin and Deltoid), SPEAR RBAV CAS and IMTV lower back protector. The carrier will integrate with the USMC Chest Rig. The LVTV must support the carriage of the SSAPI with soft armor backing and/or the SPEAR MSAP 6×6 plate and allow for adjustment.
The LVPC will support USMC PC profile soft armor. The LVPC must integrate with the SPEAR MSAP soft armor/pouches (Groin and Deltoid) and IMTV lower back protector. The LVPC must have an option to be worn without a cummerbund. When worn with a cummerbund, the LVPC must integrate with the USMC Chest Rig. The cummerbund of LVPC must support the carriage of the SSAPI with soft armor backing and/or the MSAP 6Âx6Â plate and allow for adjustment.
First off, it’s important to note that this program is for FSBE which is not a general issue program. FSBE fielded the first cut-away armor carrier (Amphibious Assault Vest, Quick-Release) after a catastrophic helo accident in December, 1999 that resulted in the death of seven Marines who could not ditch their equipment. FSBE is designed for use by the Force Reconnaissance community, Fleet AntiTerrorism Security Teams (FAST), and MEU (SOC) Helicopter Assault Companies. Since the user community is relatively modest, the numbers aren’t really big for this program (current FSBE is around 7500 individual kits). Also, this RFI isn’t looking to replace all of FSBE’s components, but rather to revamp the armor components. In fact, the RFI states that it must be compatible with current issue pockets which we take to mean FSBE pouches and Family of Pouches as well as the Marine Corps Chest Rig.
Because the original FSBE AAV was developed before SOCOM’s SPEAR cut armor, it had a proprietary cut. Several years ago, the Marines adopted the Eagle Industries Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System (CIRAS) vest as FSBE II which uses a SPEAR cut. Moving to the SPEAR standard allowed the Marines to use soft and hard armor that is more readily available and well understood by industry as well as leverage larger purchases by other groups. The same goes for the IMTV components and PC armor already in the Marine Corps inventory.
Based on the desire to integrate with current Marine issue load carrying equipment as well as more common armor components shows that they are taking a very pragmatic approach to modernizing FSBE.
We would be remiss of we did not point out that this is still only an RFI and that the Marines are using this to find out what is in the realm of the possible so that they can develop the full requirements package. Having said that, the RFI opens the possibility of a “user evaluation”.
“A limited quantity (i.e. up to 30) of evaluation systems may be requested under a bailment agreement to support user evaluation activities based on market research results. No user evaluations are planned prior to March 2011.”
On a final note, it’s best that we leave with you with the submission cutoff. Responses should be received not later than January 13, 2011. Additionally, the USMC will have representatives attending the 2011 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show and will be available on January 20th and 21st for 15 minute visits in a respondent’s booth.
Make sure you read the entire RFI at www.fbo.gov.
Marines Looking for a Few Good ‘MOLLE-Type’ Packs
Friday, November 12th, 2010According to a Sources Sought Notice released in November, it appears as if the Marine Corps has decided on a way ahead for a replacement for the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) pack.
From the Notice:
The Program Manager Individual Combat and Equipment (PM ICE), Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), is seeking industry input that identifies potential sources and best practice information regarding the manufacturing of a government-designed USMC Pack System. The USMC Pack System is similar to the US Army’s MOLLE Large and Assault Packs. The resultant System must be Berry Amendment compliant and as well as be produced at a rate which will result in a total of 108,000 Systems being delivered within 12 months of contract awards. It is anticipated that production would be satisfied through multiple contract awards.
Ironically, Marine Corps dissatisfaction with MOLLE spawned the ILBE program in the first place. Based on commercial backpacking technology, ILBE was developed by Arc’teryx and manufactured under license by Propper. The system includes a large internal frame pack, assault pack, hydration system, and waterproof liners. Issues with the design began to arise after the Marines began to use body armor with integral rear plates as standard issue. The internal frame ILBE was not designed to accommodate the added bulk of the plates and the Marines chose not to undertake a Product Improvement Program. The Marines Corps has looked at dozens of designs over the last two years including a proposal called the ‘WELBE‘ that would have modified their existing packs to accept the Mystery Ranch NICE frame.
Over the summer they announced they were going to conduct a limited test of “five Government owned pack designs”. This is a natural step in the development of a new material solution to avoid starting a new program when there is already a product that satisfies the requirement. If this Sources Sought Notice is any indication, they found their solution with MOLLE, or at least something similar.
USMC Inclement Weather Combat Shirt
Friday, October 1st, 2010Short Bark Industries manufactures the Marine Corps issue IWCS and we were lucky enough to run across one in the Tencate booth at Modern Day Marine. As you can see it has thumbhole cuffs and Super Fabric shoulder caps and is manufactured from FR fabrics. Check it out.
