UNION CITY, Ga. — October 11, 2011 — TenCate Defense & Tactical, the leading supplier of
inherently flame resistant (FR) fabrics for ground troop uniforms, was selected to receive a major
order for new TenCate Defender™ M fabrics specifically designed to meet new end-user needs to
improve pant performance. The new fabrics, including TenCate Defender™ M Stretch — a unique and
durable stretch FR fabric — are the result of the commitment of TenCate to continually improving
the protection, comfort, and durability of its advanced materials.
New Contracts
The US Army awarded two new contracts to purchase the Army Combat Pant which will be made of
three TenCate Defender™ M fabrics that are new to the US Army. These pants, specifically designed
for soldiers currently deployed outside the wire in the Afghan theatre, are intended to provide
additional comfort and durability for the rigors of the mission in the rough terrain of the Afghan
mountains, but also provide extra FR protection needed to reduce burn injuries encountered when
involved in IED attacks.
The contracts have been awarded to Crye Precision, Massif Mountain Gear and Propper
International. A Federal Procurement Listing (FPL) will provide Ready One and Goodwill Industries
with funding to manufacture the ACP as well. TenCate Defense & Tactical is already in
production to supply the fabric for Army Combat Pants which are expected to be in the Afghan
theatre by early 2012.
Innovation
TenCate Defender™ M is the leader in FR protection for soldiers, and TenCate has proudly won
repeated solicitations and ‘sources sought’ evaluations since 2007. Driven by the dedication to
continually improve the performance of TenCate Defender™ M, conditions such as the nature of combat
action and the rough Afghan terrain were studied in an effort to mitigate severe wear and tear of
the combat uniform. Engineers at TenCate reexamined the performance testing data and found ways to
make TenCate Defender™ M even more durable, giving it an overall higher level of performance.
By providing three new TenCate Defender™ M fabrics, namely TenCate Defender™ M 6.8 oz Twill,
TenCate Defender™ M 6.0 oz Stretch, and TenCate Defender™ M 6.8 oz Twill AR7, TenCate has helped
re-engineer the Army Combat Uniform to provide an even higher level of protection, comfort and
durability to meet the requirements of the day-to-day rigors of the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Continuing Dedication
The awarded contracts are expected to result in 90,000 pairs of the ACP for fielding. TenCate
Defense & Tactical is proud to have the opportunity to continue supplying our troops with the
fabric that provides the absolute best combination of protection, comfort and durability.
Posted on October 21, 2011
Source: TenCate Protective Fabrics Americas
