Natick has issued a Sources Sought Notice for a Large Airborne Assault Pack. Oddly enough, the actual title of the notice is, “Tactical Load Carriage Equipment capable of being used in a combat environment that are additionally suited for Army Airborne Operations that are based in the United States or U.S. Possessions.” What a mouthful, and what the heck does that even mean? How about just shortening the title to, “Large Airborne Assault Pack?” Then you can get into that it will be used for both combat and training operations in the narrative.
Specific requirements include, “internal storage capacity of 2900 cubic inches. The large assault pack will be made of the same unique fabrics, finishings and findings available in the current Modular Lightweight Load Carriage (MOLLE) Large Ruck-Sack. Additionally the large assault pack must have an integrated single point release system and hook-pile-tape lowering line that is either permanently attached, or is part of the overall design of the assault pack, that is capable of meeting the stringent requirements of rotary and fixed wing personnel airborne operations. The large assault pack must have a storage pocket for the hook-pile-tape lowering line, 18 personnel attaching straps and the single point release handle when the large assault pack is not rigged for airborne operations.”
Please note that this is an assault pack. This means no frame required. On another note, I am personally no fan of permanently attaching air items to a pack that a guy has to schlep around all day, particularly a single point release. Additionally, carting your lowering line around only adds insult to injury.
Interested vendors have until 30 December to answer but have to include a jump ready pack in their answer. It is important to note that whether or not you answer the Sources Sought you may still answer a formal Request For Proposals if one issued, but it is important to the Government that you do answer this current request as the information gathered will help shape any further procurement decisions. They need to know what the state of the art consists of.
A similar project was undertaken in late Summer to support a requirement out of the 82d Airborne Division. Several commercial packs were assessed under conditions which included airborne operations overseen by the Airborne Special Operations Test Directorate (ACE Board) and the Advanced Airborne School. I received information during AUSA that a winner had been chosen and when I spoke to that company they were surprised to hear it. Even now, I have seen no formal award nor announcement on the project by the Army so perhaps this new project has supplanted the earlier work.
