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 "helmet"
Way back in 2009, you may remember we introduced you to the Revision MPAS. Well, we’ve had a steady trickle of emails from folks finding that article and asking us how they can get their hands on the system.
It sounds like Revision kicked the MPAS name to the curb, and it is now calling the system Batlskin Modular Head Protection System. If you’re over at DSEI in London this week, you can get hands on the Batlskin at the Revision booth. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait ’till AUSA next month to try it on.
The system consists of new Revision branded gear, including their all-new ballistic helmet shell, trauma liner, front mount, retention system, mandible guard and visor. No word on price, yet.
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Confirming an anonymous tip I received back in mid-July, Ops-Core just gave us the official news that the Norwegian’s are buying Ops-Core FAST Ballistic helmets for their whole Army.
According to Norwegian Defense Logistic Organization (NDLO) program manager Per Morten Brunborg, they chose the F.A.S.T. Ballistic helmet as the new standard issue lid because the “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.”
In a nutshell, they are embracing the Ops-Core helmet as a system by using ballistic and non-ballistic accessories to outfit each unit with a helmet that suits their mission and capability. To wit, the Norwegians ordered side armor, mandibles, helmet covers and rear counterweights. Each of these items provides added protection and performance that can be tailored on a per-mission basis.
Our tipster originally told us the month’s long selection process was called project 4004 and came down to three vendors, with Ops-Core coming out on top. Ops-Core is mum on the particulars (how many, how much), but we were told earlier that an initial order of up to 1000 lids will ship to meet a late 2011 deadline to equip a deploying unit.
We asked Ops-Core CEO David Rogers how an order this large would affect their current production and pricing of the F.A.S.T. Ballistic helmet:
“The Norwegian project is something we are very proud of, and will also afford expansion of our current production capacity. This will result in shorter delivery lead times for other customers once this additional capacity is online. Our prices are directly resultant from our raw material costs, and the increased volume based upon this order is not sufficient for our vendors to decrease their prices. Once we exceed orders for 100,000 helmets or more, our prices will be reduced accordingly.”
Congrats, Ops-Core.
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Ever feel a bit left out when gear manufactures fail to provide a tactical-oriented mounting solution for your gadgets? We at Military Times often have to turn to ghetto-jineering to make our gear work when we’re chasing you guys around.
I was looking for a field expedient way to mount our ContourHD POV camera to a Kevlar for an assignment last week. There is an ARC rail friendly helmet mount for the Countour, but most of the services still have rail-less helmets. I needed a solution that was quick to move between a few guy’s helmets over the course of an event and would be sturdy enough to withstand combative training. After a few false starts, I asked Rob for some help and he dug through the gear locker and came up with a Surefire Helmet Light mounting bracket as a basis for the rig. By cannibalizing the Surefire mount and the parts from the ContourHD adhesive backed mounting system, we found a hybrid solution that got the job done.
Rob shows how make it in the video and there are some still images after the jump…
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Want an ACH style helmet that shaves 1/4 the weight? Have a look at the Sentry. It’s a full coverage helmet that uses a new composite material in the shell. The lighter helmet actually provides better backface deformation than it’s heavier cousin. Its shell shape provides the same percentage of coverage as an ACH while improving hearing and compatibility with communication headsets. Inside the helmet, there’s a new “worm drive” adjustment system that’s lower profile than the old knob for better comfort and clearance and new pads called X13 Liner Blocks. All this protection comes a price, though. Look for the Sentry for around $900 in March 2011.
Ops-Core is releasing a new, non-ballistic helmet this week. It’s called the Base Jump, and it’s based on the FAST shell, just made in plastic. You might remember Ops-Core already has a non-ballistic helmet, the FAST Bump, and wonder what’s different.
The Base Jump’s shell is molded plastic instead of carbon-fiber. The standard NVG shroud is molded into the helmet shell, as opposed to the optional VAS shroud you’d add to the Bump. And, there’s a new under-the-chin, single chinstrap option that offers a bit more comfort over the split, military-style chinstrap for non-tactical use.
Ops-Core calls this version the Sports Model, shown above. It’s still using the familiar Occ-Dial liner setup; the difference between it and the Military Model is the chinstrap, the omission of NVG bungees and the accessory package. The Military Model comes with a Picatinny adapter, while the sports model doesn’t.
While there are two versions of the Base Jump, there are four flavors based on the where they are made. There’s Military U.S./overseas and Sports U.S./overseas. Prices are from $239/$178 to $203/$142. The high end U.S. Military comes painted tan, green or black or dipped in MultiCam or desert MARPAT; while the three lower-priced flavors are molded in tan, green, black or red plastic.
Surefire addressed a key gripe users have voiced about their popular HL1 helmet light with the new “ratchet mount”. The new mount allows the light to be aimed up or down. Where the old mount only worked on the left side, the ratchet mount rotates 180 degrees so users can put the light on the right side of thier helmet. The new mount replaced the low profile mount all all new lights that shipped out as of last week, 7/23/2010.
Guys that use the Surefire HL1 have been looking wistfully at the twisty Energizer Hard Case helmet light since it came out. The Hard Case made it on the Army’s family of flashlights list, while the Surefire didn’t, probably because it rotated and could mount righty/lefty.
Surefire is still mulling over what to do with the old mount. The new mount has a pretty chunky profile when compared to the original. Also, the original mount is jump certified, where the replacement is not. At least, not yet.
UPDATE: Video Added.
Marine Corps Times staffer Amy McCullough is reporting the test versions of the Army’s new plastic helmet have failed to protect against bullets and blunt force attacks. Some prototypes couldn’t stop bullets, others couldn’t withstand blunt force, and some failed on both counts.
Officials would say only that all five of the test helmets, made by four companies, failed in either ballistic or nonballistic testing. The nonballistic tests examined the impact of blunt force trauma to the helmets from blast waves, rolled-over vehicles and fragmentation.
Read the rest of the story here.
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Ops-Core introduced an update to their helmet-mounted rail, so far dubbing it the 2010 Ops-Core Rail. They are aiming to keep the price the same as their older model, around $85, but adding a few more features.
The new rail, shown as a prototype above, has a retractable bungie, Oxygen mask attachment points, chem-bio attachment points, mandible attachment anchors and an auxiliary rear rail for other items like goggles and comm gear.
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Revision’s Modular Protection Attachment System is a three part system that adds considerable protection to the face without compromising standard military accessory integration or adding huge amounts of weight.
The first element of the system is the halo. It attaches to a standard ACH and adds a milspec, low profile NVG mount, Ops-Core side rails and a rear mounted anchor point for the mandible shroud. The halo weighs about 75g, that’s 15 grams more than a current NVG mount.
The second part is the dual hinged eye shield that drops down and protects the eyes and upper face. The dual hinge keeps the visor from sticking straight out when not in use. It also locks in two positions, one that allows air to escape through the top and a second, tightly sealed position.
The third and final part of the system is one of three mandible guards. Revision offers a titanium wire mask for crowd control situations, and two ballistic versions with more and less cheek coverage that let the user choose between protection or weight. The ballistic mandible guard is rated the same or better than the ballistic rating for the ACH. No word on price, yet. Revision is looking to release the MPAS next year.
More pics of different configurations after the break.
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