by David Crane
david@defensereview.com
If any part of your job requires travelling around in a Zodiac inflatable boat–like the Zodiac FC 470 Futura Commando/F-470 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC), for instance–in hostile environments, you might want to seriously consider equipping your Zodiac with Armorflate “hard” (inflatable) armor protection, which can protect boat and crew against 7.62x39mm (AK-47/AKM) ballistic threats. DefenseReview (DefRev) recently ran into this product at the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) Conference and Exhibition.
Armorflate NIJ Level III+ inflatable ballistic armor is manufactured by Simula Safety Systems, Inc., which is a division of Simula, Inc. (an Armor Holdings company). Billed as “the world’s only bulletproof system for inflatables”, Armorflate ballistic armor panels offer…
much-needed NIJ 0108.01 Level III+ anti-7.62x39mm ballistic armor protection for boat and crew while conducting military Special Operations (SPECOPS) and counterinsurgency operations. According to Armorflate literature, the Armorflate armor package “can be folded and stored in minimal space, can be inflated within minute, can be quickly refitted on boats”, and “fits any boat.” Armor weight is 5.0 lbs per square foot.
Click here to view the Armorflate info sheet.
If you’d like to inquire about Armorflate Level IIIa+ (anti-7.62x39mm) inflatable ballistic armor, you can contact Zodiac of North America by phone at 410-643-4141. Ask for Rick Scrivens. You can email Rick at rscriven@zodiac.com.
Simula, Inc. can be contacted by phone at 602 643 7233.
Click here to read a press release on Simula Armorflate inflatable ballistic “hard” armor protection.
Click here to read another press-release-format piece on Armorflate from MarineLog.com.
Click here to read a “Tactical Response” Magazine article written by Jim Weiss that discusses the Zodiac F-470 and Armorflate.
Click on this link to read a “Special Operations Technology” (SOTECH) article that mentions Armorflate.