Leading provider of C3I and communications solutions for defence, security and professional public safety users, Savox Communications, (IDEX 2015 Stand 06-B41), today launches its Tactical Headgear system for changing Operational Requirements – THOR®. The system has been designed and developed, to meet the headgear requirement for all arms of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) under its ‘Future Warrior 2020’ programme, but also meets the needs of a wide variety of other military and security end users, including Special Forces, Marine and SWAT units.
THOR is a complete, fully integrated system consisting of ballistic protection, communications, night vision equipment, hearing protection and powered accessory rails. Its modular construct can be configured to meet the needs of different users and scenarios. THOR’s ballistic, helmet-shell component, though lightweight, offers state-of-the-art protection through its ‘boltless’ design and latest Dyneema® and aramid material composition. Ultimate comfort and stability have also been achieved in THOR’s design, confirmed by users during extensive trials, dramatically reducing fatigue – a major issue with other headgear solutions.
Because the main sub-systems and components, such as its night vision goggles, have also been specifically designed for the THOR Tactical Headgear system, the highest level of integration reliability has been achieved ensuring total harmony between the individual elements of the core system. THOR is directly compatible with standard Picatinny rail-mounted accessories to support additional equipment for specific operations, e.g. cameras and illuminators. Its night vision module has a unique stowage position and is also light enough to negate the need for a counterweight.
The development phase of THOR included two extremely thorough prototype rounds involving exhaustive field and usability testing, and although the Finnish Future Warrior 2020 programme began relatively late, compared to other soldier modernisation programmes, this has been an advantage for the Fins. Savox has been the prime contractor to the FDF for its new headgear system development, working with industry partners, Milog Oy and Fy-Composites Oy.
Chief Strategic Officer at Savox Communications, Mikael Westerlund, said, “THOR is probably the most capable, sophisticated and versatile combat headgear system available anywhere today. The programme’s late start has actually allowed us to conduct extensive evaluation and benchmarking against all the other main NATO and Scandinavian programmes, which is something other programmes have not been able to do. As a result, we’ve considered the ‘best-of-the-best’, focused on integration, and ended up with what we believe is the optimum, integrated solution for numerous extreme end user requirements.”
THOR’s first customer – the Finnish Defence Force – is also being announced, today, at IDEX 2015.
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