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British respiratory protection manufacturer Avon Protection has been engaged under a multi-year contract to provide all branches of the United Kingdom’s armed forces with general service respirator equipment.
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Under the AU$72 million deal, the company will manufacture the equipment in Melksham, Wiltshire, over four years, with five further 12-month option periods possible once the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has defined the future chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) respiratory protection solution.
Avon has previously supplied the general service respirator to the UK armed forces since 2018.
“We are very proud to have won this competitive tender with the UK Ministry of Defence and to continue supporting the UK’s objectives of providing the highest quality, most reliable and trusted protection equipment for the UK’s servicemen and women,” said Jos Sclater, chief executive officer at Avon Protection.
“As we have seen with the reported deployment of chemical agents in Ukraine and in other recent conflicts, the highest grade CBRN protection is critical to operational capability for warfighters in the evolving reality of near-peer, hybrid warfare.
“This award is strategically important for Avon. It demonstrates our continued technological leadership in CBRN respiratory protection and provides a strong foundation for our UK business over the medium and long term. We look forward to continuing to provide the UK with a world-leading sovereign capability in CBRN protection from our facility in Melksham and developing new technologies which will provide unparalleled protection for those who defend our nation.”
Earlier this year, Avon Protection also announced a new EXOSKIN-S1 CBRN protective suit designed to protect soldiers against toxic liquids and gases.
The new personal protective equipment is designed to NATO AEP-38 standard and offers protection against vapour, liquid, chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemical and biological threats for up to 24 hours at a time, according to a company statement published on 26 February this year.
The suit is engineered with a cotton poly outer layer and activated carbon inner lining with an integrated hood, with a double elasticated aperture for a secure seal around the wearer’s respirator. It also features hook and loop adjustable tabs on the lower legs, an inner leg gaiter with stirrup to prevent ingress at the ankle, and a smart layer design with a thumb loop to prevent ingress at the wrist. The suit also features two jacket zip designs with hook and loop fastening for improved integration with body armour.
