Body Armor For Your “Special” Night Ops
June 13th, 2009 | Off-Duty Product Announcement | Posted by Rob Curtis
It’s not often you need body armor that’s this concealable, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it. Tactical Corsets poses the age old question “Why should men get all the high-speed low-drag tactical toys?”
They’ve taken the LBV idea to a new level, but don’t call it cute. It’s MILSPEC, they say. Heck, they’ve even got a PALS compatible lipstick pouch in T&E. No word on ballistic protection. But that might not be that important becuase the enemy will either be laughing to hard to shoot straight or asking for your number.
Marines Lead Agent on Enhanced Combat Helmet
April 20th, 2009 | Programatics | Posted by Rob Curtis
Looks like the Marines are putting their money behind a the 7.62mm resistant helmet. We heard about SOCOM’s MICH Enhanced program back in December, but now it looks like the SYSCOM, PEO Soldier and Natick are all in the market for a new helmet. According to Marine Corps Times reporter Dan Lamothe’s story, the Marines will likely get an upgraded shell without addressing the unpopular pad system.
Mystery Solved – Backpack Finally Hearts Armor
March 10th, 2009 | Product Announcement | Posted by Rob Curtis
The Mystery Cinch is a 1″ wide strap that secures your pack’s shoulder straps to your body armor, shown here on an Eagle Industries RAV, using existing PALS channels. With the cinch’s ends secured at the front edges of your vest’s armholes, it wraps around your pack straps, keeping them from sliding off your shoulders. It also obviates the need for a sternum strap.
As a bonus, on smaller packs that don’t need a waist belt it creates a ghetto one-point release that lets the wearer shrug his shoulders out of the pack straps once the cinch is split. MR used one of ITW Nexus’ newer buckles called the MQRB, which is a beefy metal buckle that will hold up better than a typical sternum strap.
The anchor points go under the PALS without weaving so you can mount something over it. The cinch will work with all backpacks whose straps are long enough to accommodate it and will cost about $30.
XSAPI To Be Bought, Shelved
February 5th, 2009 | Contracts | Posted by Rob Curtis
Here’s a headspinner: After the DOD awarded an initial contract for 120,000 new XSAPI plates, the brass told congress in a hearing yesterday that they plan on shelving the plates because the extra 1/2 pound adds too much weight to an already heavy IBA.
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X-SAPI Plate Power Pack & M41A Pulse Rifle Is Your Ticket Into the Space Marines
October 10th, 2008 | Product Announcement | Posted by Rob Curtis
BAE Systems has developed a great way to power future warrior systems by adding a battery pack to the back of an X-SAPI plate. The Power Pack is getting spiraled out of their Integrated Warrior System (IWS) program and could provide power for tech laden operator’s current kit before it sees duty as part of Ground Soldier System or Land Warrior.
At it’s heart is a 480 watt/hour dry-cell, thin-film array that adds 2.5 lbs to the plate. Taking a hit may knock out a portion of the battery, but not the whole thing. And, if you missed that, they are DRY. No acid is going to eat through you or the steel decks of the research facility on LV-426, Ripley.
Support YOUR troops
October 10th, 2007 | Product Announcement | Posted by Rob Curtis
With a pitch that includes getting a shot in the groin from a baseball that’s lit up YouTube for a few months, Nutty Buddy inventor Mark Littell seems to be onto something. If you haven’t seen the video of the former pro baseball player taking one from a pitching machine, then you’re missing out on an office wince-fest.
His newest product, shown for the first time at ArmorWork’s AUSA booth, is the Ballistic Groin Protector. It takes the athletic supporter a huge step forward by introducing fragmentation protection for your most precious cargo. Armorworks has done some preliminary tests, but a National Institute of Justice rating is still a little ways down the road. Unit price was unavailable on the show floor, but it will come in a few sizes to suit your ego. Not to be sexist, the company is also working on a verision that offers groin protection for females.