Merry Christmas to the Navy and Marine Aircrews that have to wear this vest. If it is lighter than the old vest, and more comfortable, then I am all for it. I also like the fact that it is made of Halo-Tech Fire Resistant material. If this material actually delivers in durability, we will see it in everything.
Using fire resistant clothing and equipment is a great direction for us to take. The only down side to focusing so much on FR based clothing and equipment, is the quality of those items. Do we lose warmth, gain weight, lose durability, drive up cost or limit mobility when we go to these materials? I hope not, and private industry can do a lot for us if we give them the proper direction of what we want.
I do not think we will see this vest for sale in the civilian market any time soon, but the design looks pretty basic. I think the only thing that makes it different than most is the use of Halo-Tech. We’ll see if this starts a trend with the other companies that make vests, and Halo-Tech might be the next big thing in equipment design. –Matt
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The PRU-70/P22P-18 (V) Armored Survival Vest (ASV).
Press Release Number: EAIR10200812181 18-Dec-08
NAVAIR develops new Aircrew Armored Survival Vest
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, MD. – NAVAIR’s Human Systems Division, working under the Aircrew Systems program office Life Support Systems Fleet Support Team, has developed a new aircrew armored survival vest for helicopter and non-fighter aircraft aircrew.
The new system, designated the PRU-70/P22P-18 (V) Armored Survival Vest (ASV), will be fielded in three sizes and replace the current PRU-60B system that is available in only a “two sizes fits all” configuration.
“The development of this new vest is a direct result of working with and listening to our warfighters,” said Martin Ahmad, Aircrew Systems program manager, PMA202. “This new vest could not have been developed without the involvement of the Fleet and our joint engineering/aircrew systems team.”
“This is all about saving lives,” said Lt. Cmdr. Corey Littel, the PMA202 Life Support Systems Fleet Support Team lead. “With a proper fit, this new armored survival vest will provide the Fleet with a common solution to several armor-related fit and sizing issues reported by Navy and Marine Corps units.”
“The PRU-70 is an entirely new concept in this product line that merges both the aircrew survival vest and the latest in body armor,” said Dick O’Rourke, the Fleet Support Team Lead for Aircrew Survival Vests and Body Armor. “The new system was developed to fit the entire range of body types represented by the men and women in today’s aircrew population. The PRU-70 is also designed to reduce the bulk, weight and heat stressors commonly encountered by helicopter aircrews flying six or more hours on combat missions. As an example, the extra large sized vest, with full soft and hard armor, weights about 22 pounds, which is less than the current vests.”
“Other than expanding the sizing range from the PRU-60B’s medium and large to the PRU-70’s small, medium, and large, the PRU-70 is also constructed from a cutting edge material called Halo-Tech. Halo-Tech is as fire retardant as the Nomex material used for flight suits and yet is far more durable,” added O’Rourke. “The PRU-70 will also be the first of the survival clothing items produced in the new Coyote Brown camouflage color. The Coyote Brown color was developed to blend into the environment of 70 percent of the world’s land masses.”
“The Fleet Support Team has been working very closely with returning and deployed aircrews to determine key issues they had with the current PRU-60B vest and what they would like in a new system that not only addresses those issues but also helps increase their safety and comfort on long missions,” said O’Rourke. “The biggest issues with the current system revolved around mobility, bulk, fit and comfort. Their responses directly resulted in the requirements that drove the PRU-70 design.”
The PRU-70 replaces three different items of aircrew clothing; the standard AIRSAVE Survival Vest, the separate body armor system that is worn beneath the AIRSAVE survival vest and the current PRU-60B.
The results are reduced cost and configuration management for forces in combat and also here at home. This has been accomplished through the PRU-70’s ability to be worn as a stand alone survival vest by simply being configured with or without life preservers (as authorized) and by adding or deleting body armor as needed.
The PRU-70 has recently completed Fleet Assessment trials and is currently in full production. Forward deployed Navy and Marine Corps units will be receiving the new vest by the end of the calendar year.
Photo: ”The PRU-70 vest, shown in Coyote Brown, worn over the current issue Desert Tan flight suit, in the basic configuration without armor and without floatation device. (Note: The pouches and other survival equipment usually found on the vest were left off for a clearer photo of the vest.)” U.S. Navy photo.
Link Here
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HaloTech FR
A break-through in Flame Resistant Fabric technology.
* Low afterflame and char lengths when tested to vertical flame method ASTM D6413-99.
* Meets all infrared reflective (NIR) requirements.
* Excellent abrasion resistance.
* Superior hydrostatic resistance.
* Outstanding water resistance.
* Flame resistant properties still maintained after laundering.
* Lightweight flame resistant protection.
Halotech FR can be made in any color or print with sample yardage available in:
* 330 Denier Nylon – Desert MARPAT, Universal Camo, Black
* 400 Denier Nylon – Foliage Green
* 500 Denier Nylon – Coyote, Universal Camo, Desert MARPAT, Foliage Green
* 1000 Denier Nylon – Foliage Green, Coyote, Universal Camo, MultiCam®, Camo Green
Link to Glen Raven Company, maker of Halo-Tech