DSM Dyneema Alpha Elite panel. Photo courtesy of Point Blank.
Point Blank Enterprises today unveiled the Alpha Elite Series NIJ Level II and IIIA tactical and concealable body-armor systems. After providing a sneak peak of the technology, Point Blank has announced that the full line of Alpha Elite Series products will be unveiled at the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) and Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 14‒17, 2014.
Featuring Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology by DSM, the Alpha Elite Series is designed to provide high-performance ballistic protection integrated in a fully functional and scalable design to meet the needs of law enforcement, military, and U.S. Special Operations. A key focus of the Alpha Elite series product development was also ensuring that this technology is affordable to the vast majority of law enforcement agencies.
Available in both concealable and tactical configurations, independent testing has confirmed that the Alpha Elite Level II and Level IIIA offer the lightest and highest performing NIJ 0101.06 body armor in the world today, according to the company. Importantly, the Alpha Elite Level II and IIIA products meet the requirements of the FBI test protocol.
"Rigorous testing by independent labs has shown the Level II and Level IIIA Alpha Elite products are the best performing and lightest-weight products on the market today, and we are able to offer them at a cost that is comparable to other soft-armor ballistic solutions," said Michael Foreman, vice president of government and international sales and head of product-line management at Point Blank Enterprises. "We are thrilled that we can offer this revolutionary product that was designed to meet the rigorous demands of U.S. Special Operations forces deployed in the world's most dangerous regions to law enforcement, federal, military and special-ops personnel at home and around the world."
Foreman added, "We are particularly proud to be featuring, for the first time at SHOT Show, the Alpha Elite Level II product, which has proven to be 20 percent lighter and six percent higher performing than the best NIJ .06 Level II models previously on the market. The array of products provides consumers with a broad spectrum of choices to fit the strategic needs of their missions."
Technology Behind Alpha Elite
Dedicating more than three years to development by DSM Dyneema's radical-innovation program, the Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology ballistic material was designed to defeat high-velocity handgun rounds and fragmentation with minimal backface deformation. Point Blank collaborated closely with DSM to become the first trademark licensee in law enforcement personal protection.
The scientifically advanced fusion of polymer science, fiber technology and uni-directional engineering provides a level of ballistic protection in Point Blank's Alpha Elite Series with Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology that has never been seen before in the industry. In fact, the NIJ Level IIIA performance is now available with comfort levels more typical of Level II body armor. Compared to Point Blank's previous lightest Level IIIA vest, the Alpha Elite Series is a full 12 percent lighter.
"Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology is a result of DSM Dyneema's radical innovation program that will create a new benchmark in light-weight ballistics solutions," said Shitij Chabba, DSM Dyneema Global Business Director for Life Protection. "DSM Dyneema is proud to have Point Blank as our first licensee for this technology. We look forward to working together to outfit law enforcement and military professionals with this revolutionary product that provides unmatched comfort and mobility."
Alpha Elite Series Features
Point Blank's Alpha EliteTM Series offers:
• NIJ Standard 0101.06 compliance in Level II and IIIA configurations
• Extremely high effectiveness against fragmentation
• Multi-hit performance exceeding FBI protocol
• Special-threat performance exceeding FBI protocol
• Extraordinarily efficient absorption of impact energy
• Lightest NIJ .06 Level II and Level IIIA products
• Level II is 20 percent lighter than the best models in the industry
• Level IIIA is 23 percent lighter than the average of the best models in the industry
• Thinnest NIJ .06 Level IIIA product – 31 percent thinner than the average of the best Level IIIA packages in the industry
• Highest performing Level II model – outperforms the previous best Level II models by five percent with a higher v50
• Ballistics available in the Elite concealable carrier and the Alpha-1 tactical armor systems for both male and female officers
This ballistic package is now commercially available and will be sold through Point Blank's global distribution network. The package will also be available with all core Point Blank Body Armor and PARACLETE advanced tactical armor solutions worldwide, both direct and via the Company's General Services Administration ("GSA") schedule.
About Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.
Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. ("PBEI") is a leading provider of high performance protective solutions, including bullet, fragmentation and stab resistant apparel and related accessories. Through its key brands, Point Blank Body Armor, Protective Apparel Corporation of America (PACA), Protective Products and PARACLETE®, the Company ranks as the largest global supplier of ballistic and soft armor systems in the world. The Company's ballistic solutions have been credited with saving countless lives for the most important customers in the world, including the U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense, Federal Government and law enforcement, corrections and security personnel, both domestically and abroad.
Related:
IACP 2013: Point Blank and Dyneema Develop New Lightweight Body Armor
