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Army Seeks Small Business MOLLE Manufacturers

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

While the Sources Sought Notice came and went, the fact remains that the Army is considering seeking small businesses to manufacture MOLLE. Yes, businesses as they anticipate multiple awards. They are looking at a three year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with one base year plus two option years. This means that the government will set minimums and maximums for a contract year and will place orders as they are needed and within those limits. Option years are awarded at the discretion of the government based upon need and performance.

For example, the government proposes a maximum base year consisting of production of 50,000 MOLLE Rifleman sets, 50,000 Tactical Assault Panels, 50,000 Medium Rucksacks, 50,000 Hydration Systems, 5000 Grenadier and SAW sets, 10,000 Pistol sets, and 2000 Medic Sets.

One issue that the Sources Sought puts to rest is whether we would see a new solicitation for the still under development Medium Rucksack which just recently finished phase I testing at Fort Knox. Medium Rucksack will become a component of MOLLE and produced under that contract. The Army hopes to begin fielding as early as July for use in Afghanistan.

The sources sought notice contains a great deal of info for those interested in MOLLE and is worth the read.

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Back to the Future – Rucksack Style

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Military.com’s Defense Tech Blog just published a teaser for an article on a new “Medium” pack for use in Afghanistan. The intent is to provide a pack that fits somewhere in between the current 2000 cubic inch Assault Pack and the 5000 cubic inch Modular Lightweight Load carrying Equipment (MOLLE) Rucksack. Interestingly, the initial variant of the current MOLLE pack was of Medium size and only after a couple of years did the Army change out to the current Large pack.In fact, the Large MOLLE ruck was only developed to support light forces like the 10th Mountain Division and there was a great deal of hand wringing over whether it would be appropriate to replace the Medium on general issue. It can be denoted from the earlier version by the addition of a halfmoon zippered compartment on the bottom which is used to carry the sleep system rather than a separate bag.

As you can see from this photo (actually an early medical version issued to Navy Corpsman supporting the Marines), the original pack was much smaller but fell in line with the modularity of the overall system. It could be used in conjunction with a variety of additional options including the side mounted sustainment pouches as well as the sleeping bag carrier. Later, with the advent of the Ranger variant of MOLLE a waist pack was added to the mix. When MOLLE was initially envisioned the concept was to provide a variety of modules that the user could add or subtract in order to mission tailor the load. There was concern about devloping a pack that could overload the wearer.

The US military used the All-purpose Individual Lightweight Carrying Equipment (ALICE) system up until the late 1990s which included medium as well as large packs. Both fit on a tubular metal frame so the concept of offering several pack options is nothing new. It seems that more and more often, the Army is learning that the Soldier needs several options in his “toolbox”. For example, SOCOM selected an entire suite of pack sizes for their troops.

One possible solution is the Mystery Ranch SATL which is issued to SOCOM and integrates MR’s proprietary Bolster Ventilation and Stability (BVS) system which was designed to increase the stability of the pack over body armor. Consider the SATL a daypack on steroids with external pockets to help compartmentalize gear. Its internal frame design helps stabilize teh load yet keep the pack’s weight to a minimum.

As you can see, over time the US has provided multiple pack sizes to its troops. It will be interesting to see how this “new” requirement pans out; whether it is an internal frame, external frame, or a frameless pack and whether it will be adopted into the MOLLE program of record.

Tags: MOLLE
Posted in MOLLE, Packs | Comments Off on Back to the Future – Rucksack Style

The Tactical Assault Panel

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Many of you noticed a reference to the Tactical Assault Panel or TAP being issued to the Afghanistan camouflage test battalions.

Here is a little bit of background on this developmental item.

The bib-like TAP is a product improvement that attaches to the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) or Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) giving Soldiers the ability to attach Modular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment (MOLLE) basic fighting load pouches to the TAP, as opposed to directly to the IOTV or OTV. It is easily donned and doffed allowing the Soldier to quickly reduce the girth of his load by removing the TAP from his armor.

The intent is to issue the TAP in addition to or in lieu of the Fighting Load Carrier once an assessment has been completed. An in-theater User Evaluation began in 4QFY09 and PEO-Soldier will be making adjustments to the TAP based on that feedback.

Posted in Armor, Load Carrying, MOLLE, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on The Tactical Assault Panel

BAE to Produce MultiCam MOLLE for Afghanistan Camo Test

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

The Army has issued a Purchase order for the production of MOLLE systems in MultiCam in anticipation of the upcoming camouflage tests in Afghanistan. It seems that this train is on its way.

Tags: BAE, MOLLE, Multicam
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MOLLE Cease and Desist

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Any companies who have received cease and desist letters in regard to the production of MOLLE please contact us. We are particularly interested in any letters that contained copyrighted material from Soldier Systems.

Thank You,
-Editor

Tags: MOLLE
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RFIG Has ECLiPSE in Stock for Unit Orders

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Rapid Fielding Initiative Gear has ample quantities of BAE’s ECLiPSE line in stock in all color schemes. RFIG is a new military outfitter formed as a partnership between apparel industry leaders, government acquisition specialists, and military veterans. RFIG is also certified female service disabled veteran owned small business (FSDVSB). Their intent is to support units directly with hard to find items and proprietary products such as ECLiPSE.

For more information on RFIG’s wide range of products or to order from the ECLiPSE line visit www.RFIGear.com.

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USMC ILBE Detachable Platform Chest Rig

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

The Marine Corps is working on a specialized detachable chest rig for armor vehicle crewmen to be used as a quick-attach/detach capability for ILBE pouches . The Detachable Platform Chest Rig will integrate with the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) or recently fielded Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC). Vehicle space constraints make it difficult for mounted crewmen to perform their mission while wearing pouches attached to their armor carrier. They require a “slick” chest area but once they exit the vehicle need a means to rapidly integrate ammunition and other critical equipment to their armor. As envisioned, the chest rig is a two piece design consisting of a vest foundation piece and removable pouch attachment system. The vest foundation piece will be affixed to the MTV/ SPC and serve as the base for the pouch attachment piece. The pouch attachment piece will hold the required pouches and be stored in the vehicle during normal vehicle operations. The pouch attachment piece will essentially “snap into place” once the crewman dismounts.

Planned fielding is currently just over 6000 systems but if the rig shows utility expect to see it adopted by other service components.

Tags: USMC
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Airmen Battle System-Ground Components

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Undergarments
Menâ€™s boxers, womenâ€™s panties, short and long-sleeved T-shirts, a bra, and long underwear pants will be fielded in the same Sand color as the current ABU T-shirt. The garments can be worn alone or in concert with one another along the lines of the Army’s Gen III ECWCS.

Airman Battle Ensemble
The FR Airman Battle Ensemble will be fielded in the ABU’s digital Tigerstripe pattern which adapted the Army’s UCP colorway by adding a fourth color; Slate. Since the garment consisting of a jacket and trousers is designed specifically for combat the overall design has been altered slightly from the ABU although it’s general appearance will remain the same.

The jacket unfortunately retains the front zipper as well as the same useless, four chest pockets found on the ABU/BDU but adds zippered pockets on the upper sleeve as well velcro pockets on the forearm.

The trousers a near exact copy of the FR variant of the ACU.

Airman Battle Shirt
Along the same lines as the Marine Corps’ FROG shirt and Army’s Combat Shirt, the ABS will feature a moisture-wicking torso mated to FR sleeves with padded elbows and the same sleeve and forearm pocket setup as the Battle Ensemble jacket. Currently, the ABS has a mock turtleneck like the ACS. The torso will be a a solid color and the sleeves in digital Tigerstripe.

Foul-weather Jacket and Trousers
For inclement weather the Air Force is planning a lightweight rainsuit. There is also discussion of a solid colored fleece jacket although no one has gone so far as to consider a program on the level of FREE or Gen III ECWCS for the Air Force.

Accessories
FR socks, balaclavas, gloves, as well as belts are under development and will join the other equipment as they are ready for fielding although most of these items are available commercially.

Armor
Although not officially a component of ABS-G, the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) developed for ACC’s SF community and soon adopted for all Security Forces AF-wide is now available in the Air Force digital pattern. Additionally, an Air Force unique body armor system is under development.

Tags: ABS-G
Posted in Air Force, Armor, Clothing, FR, MOLLE | Comments Off on Airmen Battle System-Ground Components