We’ve been waiting to see Revision’s Batleskin face protection system since it was introduced back in 2009 as the MPAS. We’ve gotten word that the suite of face protecting products are available for retail purchase today. The following ACH-compatible Batlskin components can be purchased at Revision’s online store and through select military retailers across the U.S.: the Batlskin Front Mount (MSRP $89.99); the Batlskin 3-Position Visor (MSRP $279.99); and the Batlskin High-Threat Mandible Guard (MSRP $479.99).
Tag "armor"
This one is about as simple as it gets. Crye wanted to give service members wearing body armor protection from the elements without a complicated donning and doffing process. Anyone who has worn a set of armor knows it keeps your core fairly warm. Crye just built a jacket that covers arms, shoulders and upper torso that can be packed away in seconds into a GP pouch. The HalfJak will come as a loft layer and a separate Gore-Tex shell that can be layered for warmth and protection from precipitation.
Look for the jackets to go on sale in summer, 2012. As soon as we hear the price, we’ll update you.
The A-TACS camo pattern is growing in popularity. Mayflower Research and Consulting is offering their kit in A-TACS.
One of the biggest must-sees of 2012 is this piece of thermo-molded polymer that snaps around the edges of an armor plate. The rig is held in place with a system of polyurethane-coated and radio-frequency-welded straps that are tough and have no sewn stitches to fray. Its futuristic looks belie its backward compatibility with the MOLLE/PALS pouch system. Using S&S Precision’s new pouch system will afford a more stable platform. The plate carrier will be dipped in any camo pattern available and will come in two versions — “Tactical” and “LE” — the difference being the thickness of the material and resulting weight. S&S told us the tactical version is 18 ounces, but the weight of the LE version hadn’t been finalized.
Price: $381.
Available: Summer. Read More
I guess Ares called it the RAD because RDPC doesn’t sound as rad. Well, there’s plenty of cool in the RAD (Rapid Armor Deployment) pack. It’s a plate carrier disguised as a bookbag/backpack. It looks like it might fit someone’s mission profile out there. Heck, if your local public school has metal detectors, get one for the kids. In the video, watch Dimitri, from Ares, deploy the system with hard plates installed. He isn’t messing with the waist straps just to illustrate how quickly the system can be deployed in extremis. I guess you’d snap the front panel to the rear after a break in the initial contact.
From the Ares site: The Rapid Armor Deployment Pack is intended to allow one to become a true Sheepdog. You can go from being an average unnoticed citizen and in under 2 seconds deploy a full armor system with a weapon giving you an unexpected advantage over would be shooters or assailants. The Ares Armor RAD Pack features: Molle on the front plate pocket to allow for customized setups Able to accept Front and back armor plates. (not included) Easy lock down system to secure front plate to you should you need to shoot and move. The ability to blend into society. There is no Molle or other military style construction on the externals of the RAD Pack. A back pocket that is fully functional as a normal pack for storage of items away from the weapon. Comes with universal pistol holster
Patents Pending Ares Armor R.A.D. (Rapid Armor Deployment) Pack is the next level of concealed weapon carry. Pre-Order Item. Shipping Late February We will not be displaying detailed images of this pack to protect the customers of this item. For a limited time it’s $229.95
Longer and more detailed video after the break.
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Practical uses are sketchy at this stage, but a group of scientists in southern California have figured out how to up-armor a cotton t-shirt with boron Carbide nanowires.
Using a cotton t-shirt as a template, the crew soaked cotton squares in a solution containing boron powder and then cooked it. The heat turned the cotton into carbon and the fine boron particles trapped in the fibers of the t-shirt reacted and bonded to make a flexible boron carbide fabric.
The scientists haven’t claimed the resulting material is more bullet resistant than Kevlar, and there’s still the issue of lethal levels of backface deformation to contend with when considering such a light and flexible material for ballistic protection.
So, this isn’t a bulletproof t-shirt. But, it is a big step toward a composite material that will make armor of all types lighter, more pliable and in the case of body armor, more comfortable.
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We just heard that the Army awarded their 57,000 plate carrier contract to KDH. We aren’t sure how the lighter, better performing options were discarded in favor of KDH’s package that uses vanilla IOTV armor panels. But, we guess it had something to do with the company being located in Johnstown, PA. That’s Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, home to Rep. John Murtha chairman of House Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee and one of the not-so-mysteriously best-funded little airports in the country. It’s going to be interesting to see how a small business that is already subcontracting out the work on their existing body armor contracts is going to pull this off.
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We caught up with Archangel Armor to see what updates they’ve made to their loadbearing body armor system. Archangel President Paul Carter says they’re up to version 3.51 and have modified the cut of the rear panel to allow a little more room when going prone and are reworking the quick release system, making it simpler and lighter.
The system was shown with an Eagle plate carrier mounted, but they also had a set with a standard IOTV mounted without modification. So, it seems units that want to transition to loadbearing body armor can do so with their current armor packages when the Archangel system hits the market. Still no word on availability, but momentum is continuing to build behind the scenes.
Archangel is going to participate in a study next week that will help determine how much weight is transferred where when the system is used. While everyone that has tried the system on agrees it feels much better, there hasn’t been a way to quantify the benefit. So, getting some numbers and science behind their product should help move things along.
Hit the Jump for a few more photos.
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Army Lt. Col. Robert W. Myles Jr. Product Manager Soldier Survivability talks about the latest technology in protective vests in May, 2009. Tom Brown/Army Times Staff
The US Army is soliciting bids for 57,000 armor plate carriers in various sizes. Here are some bullets from the RFQ that came down late last week.
- total contract delivery date of 2/28/2010
- provide soft ballistic protection equal to the current IOTV
- be compatible with ESAPI, XSAPI, ESBI requirements
- size medium with soft ballistic panels must weigh less than 9 pounds
- 30 second don/doff time
- come in Army UCP
- have MOLLE/PALS webbing on front and back
- have a drag strap
A few months back USSOCOM and Natick started looking for an improved MICH helmet. Well, they turned the lights out on that solicitation in early January.
USSOCOM wanted to provide operators with two new versions of the MICH shell- “MICH-Standard” would have been lighter and more configurable than the current version with the same ballistic protection level, and “MICH Enhanced” that would have added improved protection against 7.62 x 39mm PS ball over the MICH-Standard.
UPDATE: Turns out that Natick pulled the solicitaion so they could talk to vendors at Shot Show without running afoul of some acquisition laws…
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