Posts Tagged ‘Norway’
Forces Focus – Norwegian Marinejeger Kommandoen
Friday, November 23rd, 2012Strike – Hold! Covers The Jerven Fjellduken
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012
Norway’s Jerven Fjellduken has been described elsewhere as a “space blanket on steroids.” Strike-Hold! recently published a write up on the Mountain Tarp which is constructed from a non-breathable, aluminum-lined water and wind-proof material. Available in 5 different models, it can be used as a shelter or sleeping bag.
The coolest thing about the Fjellduken is its specialized camo pattern. As you can see, it’s well suited to Norway’s mountainous terrain.
Check out the article on www.strikehold.net.
Arc’teryx Gear Protects Norwegian SF During SAR
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
Photo – Norrbotten Polis
There was a horrible plane crash during the NATO winter exercise earlier this year in Norway. A C-130 Hercules crashed into the highest mountain in Sweden in really bad weather conditions. Norwegian Special Forces, who are equipped with Arc’teryx clothing, assisted with the multi-day Search and Rescue effort. In the photo above you can see these troops wearing the Alpha Jacket and Pants.
Coming Soon from Norrøna
Monday, April 30th, 2012
Coming in July 2012 from Norwegian manufacturer Norrøna is this hardshell parka and trousers featuring GORE-TEX construction. Developed in conjunction with Norwegian, Swedish and Danish Special Forces.
www.norrona.com/Concepts/recon
NATO Cold Weather Seminar
Monday, November 7th, 2011Hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations, the 2nd NATO cold weather seminar is from the 21st until the 23rd of November at the Norwegian Vinterskole in Oslo. This seminar’s theme is “Winter as a friend or foe.â€
According the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces COE-CWO, “The main audience is military winter and mountain instructors and officers on the tactical/ operational level that need a wider perspective in winter operations.”
Both Arc’teryx LEAF and Vertx will be on hand showing their cold weather gear and collecting info for future product development.
Here is a link to the conference report from the first iteration, earlier this year.
Norwegians Choose Thales for NORMANS Soldier System
Friday, October 14th, 2011
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has selected Thales to provide their commercialized version of the NORMANS Soldier Digitization effort. Over the next five years Thales will lead a team to produce the systems which are built to the specifications produced by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and and tested by the Telemark Battalion (TmBn).
The 2 NORMANS devices provide blue force tracking, navigation, target hand-off, and text messaging. NORMANS Light is worn by the individual Soldier member of a Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) squad and NORMANS Advanced is used by small unit leaders. As you can see NORMANS Advanced offers a full color display and will deliver more data rich information.
“NORMANS digitised soldier system will provide Norwegian soldiers with improved situational awareness, improved ability to navigate and will provide effective mission planning. As a result of this soldiers will have increased effectiveness and safety in operationsâ€, says Secretary of State in the MoD, Roger Ingebrigtsen.
Norwegian SF
Monday, September 19th, 2011
We recently mentioned that Norway’s Special Forces are using the Ops-Core FAST Helmet. Here is a photo from Exercise Jackal Stone 2011, hosted by SOCEUR in Constanta, Romania last week.
Thanks Loopster
Ops-Core Wins Norwegian Helmet Contract
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
Boston-based Ops-Core, Inc was awarded a contract last week to supply the Norwegian Army with their Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) helmet. The FAST helmet will replace the current PASGT style aramid helmet manufactured by Cato Ringstad AS.
While specific numbers have not yet been released, the Norwegian Army will purchase enough helmets to not only outfit their active forces, but some of the National Guard as well. The current strength of the Norwegian Army sits at around 22,000. However, a post on a Norwegian military forum in July by someone close to the program forecasted the delivery of 1000 helmets for operational use before the end of the year.
In order to supply these helmets, Ops-Core won a year-long competitive program named “Project 4004” with several down select mile-stones which included troop trials, ballistic and other safety testing. Norwegian Special Forces have already been using the Ops-Core helmet for over a year in training as well as operational roles so Ops-Core’s selection, while arduous, was not surprising.
In a press release from Ops-Core, member of Norwegian Defense Logistic Organization (NDLO) program manager Per Morten Brunborg is quoted as saying, “The FAST helmet gave our program flexibility to adapt to a variety of service positions and mission profiles that were difficult to accomplish with only one helmet in the past.†He went on to add, “This helmet saves the overall program money by allowing us to field it service wide in several configurations, instead of having to field several different kinds of helmets like we used to. It’s also very beneficial that we can provide our soldiers better ballistic performance at a much lighter weight than our previous helmet. The Ops-Core FAST High Cut version provides the Norwegian Army the right balance between comfort and integration of attachments, which stress the soldiers neck less than the previous solutions and enhances the durability of the soldier.†As you can see, not only did the Norwegian Army find the FAST helmet’s modularity made possible by the Visual Augmentation System (VAS) shroud and Accessory Rail Connector (ARC) rails particularly desirable, but also its lightweight protection as well.
The FAST helmet boasts a ballistic shell developed during a multi-year collaboration effort between Ops-Core, Ceradyne and DSM Dyneema. Ceradyne, the sub-contractor who molds the shell, has a special seamless processing technique using Dyneema’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material that yields outstanding ballistic protection at lower weights. Much of the systems technology used in this helmet has also been in the works over the last ten years with significant inputs from the US Army’s PEO Soldier, the Army Research Lab, and Natick Soldier Systems Center. The FAST helmet actually has more in common with the new Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) for the US Army and Marine Corps than the baseline MICH.
Deliveries of the FAST helmet to Norway are scheduled to commence in 4th Quarter of 2011 and continue through 3rd Quarter of 2012. In what is most likely a Norwegian version of an IDIQ contract, it is valid for 10 years and is good for future Norwegian procurement and purchasing activities. On a final note, Ops-Core is well represented throughout Europe by Norwegian company NFM but the helmets will reportedly be manufactured in the US.
For more information, please visit the Ops-Core website at www.ops-core.com.
