PrimaLoft teams GORE to introduce Loft jacket for USSOCOM

19 November 2012 army-technology.com

PrimaLoft has signed a teaming agreement with GORE Military Fabrics to introduce a new layering insulation garment, the Lightweight Loft jacket, for US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Designed by Patagonia, the jacket is adopted as level 3B of the protective combat unit (PCU) layering system, and is primarily designed to provide USSOCOM personnel with an enhanced level of environmental protection, as well as the ability to withstand adverse weather conditions.

Manufactured using a combination of PrimaLoft's FUSION insulation and a Gore 2-layer FASTPACK membrane laminate as a padded soft-shell, the windproof jacket dries quickly and provides durable water-resistance.

PrimaLoft president and chief executive officer Michael Joyce said the company's insulation gear has been worn by the special operations forces (SOF) personnel for the past decade.

"By combining our proprietary technology with GORE Military Fabrics, we are able to offer a distinctive advantage to the US Military to keep our troops warm, dry and comfortable while in the field," Joyce added.

Gore product specialist Tim Quinn added that the jackets have been designed to offer troops increased comfort and weather protection.

"Gore will continue to support improving the mission effectiveness of our warfighters by engineering a broad range of protective fabric technologies that offer distinct capabilities, such as advanced weather protection, flame resistance, and signature reduction," Quinn added.

Capable of working within the USSOCOM's PCU system, the Lightweight Loft jacket has also been printed in a variety of camouflage patterns, including an-infra-red (IR) signature reduction.

PrimaLoft has delivered more than one million insulated jackets and trousers to US troops in the past several years, while GORE-TEX fabric is a material of choice for use in design and development of various Department of Defense's (DoD) garments, footwear and gloves.