Avon Protection contracted to develop integration between CBRN masks and suits
The US military has millions of Avon Protection masks. (Photo: US Army)
Avon Protection has supplied millions of M50/M51 and M53/M53A1 air purifying respirators (APRs) in use across all branches of the US military for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection.
Avon Protection has been awarded three contracts by the US Department of Defense (DoD)to develop a solution to optimise integration between currently fielded M50 and M53A1 protective masks and CBRN protective garment hoods on a CBRN suit.
The work is being performed under the DoD’s Advanced System for Protection and Integrated Reduction of Encumbrances Hood/Mask Interface (ASPIRE HMI) programme under the Joint Program Executive Office for CBRN Defense (JPEO-CBRND).
Steve Elwell, president of Avon Protection, said the purchase of individual systems as part of a CBRN solution created risk at the points where the systems meet.
“Our approach is to mitigate this risk by designing our equipment to integrate seamlessly together, and it is this understanding of the importance of interface optimization between systems that we will bring to our work on this contract,” Elwell said.
Justin Hine, product and strategy director at Avon Protection, also noted the integration issue earlier this year.
“What we are seeing is that the word ‘interface’ is arising frequently in procurement documents, reflecting the challenges being faced by efforts to ensure all the different parts of a CBRN protective system work together effectively,” Hine said.
“This is really key, because you can have the most technologically advanced mask, hood, suit, boots and gloves, but if the points where they meet each other are weak, the whole system risks being a protective failure.”
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet]()
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.
-
![Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024]()
Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024
Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.
-
![BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles]()
BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles
BAE Systems has been contracted to install modifications on older versions of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) creating the M2A4 and M7A4 and keeping the platform in service until 2050.
-
![Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks]()
Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks
The contract is for the supply of a variety of military logistic platforms equipped with tactical cabins and based on the new range of IDV SMR6 trucks (Standard Military Range), which includes 4×4, 8×8 and 10x10 variants.
-
![Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system]()
Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system
Poland has been investing heavily in new defence equipment, including billions-of-dollars in air defence systems such as Narew and Wisła to provide multi-tier coverage, as well as in C2 systems such as IBCS.
-
![US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar]()
US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar
India has been navigating a strategic balancing act in its defence modernisation efforts as it considers deals with Russia and the US.
