RBAV-AF Review

RBAV-AF Review
Review of RBAV AF, the newest addition to the BAE Systems
ECLiPSE® Modular Vest Program (MVP) The RBAV-AF is designed
to work with armor packages cut in the SPEAR-BALCS pattern. For
purposes of this review, the AF was outfitted with a PPI TWARON
BALCS package with LARGE Ceradyne ESAPI plates. This new
carrier platform incorporates the direct input of highly-experienced
operators to create a mission-ready, integrated solution. The RBAVAF is fully compatible with all accessories and components of the
RBAV-SF. The BAE part number for the RBAV-AF is 7610.
The RBAV AF is the latest iteration of the RBAV series of
releaseable outer tactical vests offered by BAE Systems Eclipse line
of products. The original RBAV vest pattern came about around
SHOT 2008. Designed by the same folks responsible for the Eagle
CIRAS, the similarity in outward appearance to the Land variant is
very hard to miss, beyond the appearance though, the RBAV is
essentially an entirely new design.
Feature differences between the RBAV-AF model and previous SF
and earlier models. There are some design differences from earlier
RBAV configurations. The most notable are the weapon accessory
loops hanging from the shoulder straps, the cable/wire management
“ports”, internal hydration bladder pocket and an increase in usable
PALS real estate.
From BAEs Website, the RBAV-AF has in addition to all of the -SF features,
Integrated Cable Management for radios and other equipment
●Built-in rear panel hydration carrier pocket
●Extended MOLLE panels located on both the front and back which allow for greater load carrying
options
●Improved quick-release access flap and release handle design
●Built-in front admin/document pocket
●Removable, front mounted weapon/general purpose D-rings
●Enhanced interior side pocket design to accommodate larger items
●Improved access to side pockets for removal and insertion of radios and magazines
●Fully compatible with all Eclipse SOLAR accessories, SPEAR/BALCS soft armor and hard armor
currently in use with the RBAV-SF
●
Design – The RBAV follows the “outer vest” concept utilizing
two vest halves (front and rear), an inner elastic
cummerbund and an “outer” cummerbund. Tying these four
major sub-components together is the releaseable system
2-line “ripcord”. When assembled, the inner and outer
cummerbund attaches to the rear half of the vest.
Exterior of Front RBAV-AF Panel showing D-rings,
revised ripcord handle cover flap covering shoulder cord
access and cable/wire management slots.. Note the
enlarged cummerbund retainer flap.
Design – The RBAV follows the “outer vest” concept
utilizing two vest halves (front and rear), an inner elastic
cummerbund and an “outer” cummerbund. Tying these
four major sub-components together is the releaseable
system 2-line “ripcord”. When assembled, the inner and
outer cummerbund attaches to the rear half of the vest.
Exterior of Rear RBAV-AF Panel showing drag handle,
upper flap covering shoulder cord access and hydro
bladder opening. Note the extent of PALS webbing
coverage on both sides of the lower half of the carrier
body
RBAV-AF front panel exposed Ripcord
handle prior to discharge
The two halves of the vest are held together by the ripcord assembly
that secures via 5 locations inside the back panel, two anchor points
for the shoulder/upper half of the vest assembly, and three anchor
points for the lower half of the vest assembly and cummerbunds.
These anchor points consist of a woven Dacron loop that is threaded
through eyelets on the component pieces. The ripcord cable is then
threaded through the Dacron loops thus securing the vest assembly
together until ditching is required.
Ditched RBAV-AF Panels showing inner elastic cummerbund,
cummerbund retention webbing and mesh interior lining.
outer
The RBAV is designed so that the ripcord assembly can be configured
for either left-handed or right-handed deployment and requires about
48” of linear movement to fully extract the ripcord. During testing, I
found that even when laden with about 50 lbs of kit, the cable motion
did not exhibit signs of binding, and the vest components fully
separated off my body.
The two halves of the vest are held together by the ripcord
assembly that secures via 5 locations inside the back panel,
two anchor points for the shoulder/upper half of the vest
assembly, and three anchor points for the lower half of the
vest assembly and cummerbunds. These anchor points
consist of a woven Dacron loop that is threaded through
eyelets on the component pieces.
The ripcord cable is then threaded through the Dacron loops
thus securing the vest assembly together until ditching is
required. The RBAV is designed so that the ripcord
assembly can be configured for either left-handed or righthanded deployment and requires about 48” of linear
movement to fully extract the ripcord. During testing, I
found that even when laden with about 50 lbs of kit, the
cable motion did not exhibit signs of binding, and the vest
components fully separated off my body.
Ditched RBAV-AF Ripcord, the short cable is for shoulder
release while the longer retains the cummerbund assemblies
The inner cummerbund is a 4 inch wide elastic belt that keeps the vest
from riding up on a wearer during excessive range of motion and helps
to distribute some of the borne load over a larger surface area. The two
sides of the outer cummerbund wraps around the front half of the vest
assembly and is held secure by a Velcro lined front flap assembly. The
bulk of the external mission load is borne by the outer cummerbund.
Sizing of the Cummerbund assemblies is accomplished by threading the two upper/lower webbing sets for the outer
cummerbund and the middle webbing set for the inner cummerbund. The degree of adjustability is more exact than
what is provided for in the CIRAS platform. NOTE: The inner cummerbund is permanently anchored on the wearer's left
side, so it will fall away only from the right side.
The securing method for the rear panel ripcord / cummerbund adjustment/anchor site cover was changed from all snap
closure in the 2008 RBAV to snap closure and Velcro in the RBAV-AF
The shoulder strap “core” is a piece of webbing that provides the
structure for the shoulder straps and ripcord routing eyelet. On top of
this webbing assembly is another piece of webbing that is sewn up to
form a “tunnel” through which the ripcord cable is routed through from
the center handle retainer position. The shoulders have a series of 4
eyelets to adjust for front/rear panel ride height.
Reconfiguring of the vest release system takes about two minutes, the
most involved part of reassembly being the routing of the release cable
back through one of the shoulder strap tunnels.
Access to the interior of the vest for both the hard armor and soft armor
is accomplished through the interior side of both front and rear panels.
Rear Interior Panel
Note raschel type mesh lining for breathability and
reduction in weight
Front Interior Panel
The rear panel releaseable anchor site cover flap is secure by a large
snap/Velcro area.
8 full-height PALS Column (12 In Wide) x 8 physical
PALS Rows (16 In high)
Top and bottom webbing controls the adjustability of
the out cummerbund while the middle webbing
controls the inner cummerbund
The front Cummerbund securing flap is also secured using a
similar method. The front securing flap also contains a
“kangaroo”-type slot pocket that is Velcro secured, and could
ostensibly be fitted out with a double or triple M4 magazine
shingle or used for document retention.
7 full-height PALS Column (12 In Wide) x5 physical
PALS Rows (5 In high)
On the end of the shoulder strap core/routing tunnel webbing piece is
sewn an ITW Nexus D-ring. A wearer can either leave this D-ring
hanging down for use with a weapon sling, comm-mike hanger or they
can fold it up and wrap it using the removable shoulder/MSAP pad.
This shoulder strap pad assembly covers/pad the gap between the front
and rear panels and the shoulder cores. The pad does provide some
modicum of comfort against the weight of the entire rig. It is important
to note that proper configuration and wear of this vest system causes
weight to be distributed more evenly throughout the wearers torso are
and not just upon their shoulders.
Shoulder Core, showing D-rin in down or up position
Attached shoulder pad assembly showing MSAP
attachment slot and optional up armor loop velcro.
The cable/wire management “ports” allow for the weaving through of
various comm. cables through from the vest exterior into the vest interior.
These ports are very similar to the serged foliage slots in protective helmet
covers, or buttonholes.
A hydration bladder pocket is sewn onto the interior
side of the rear panel cover. There is a webbing loop
sewn in a manner that provides hanging support for a
bladder from the top edge of the rear vest. My
comparison 2008 RBAV has this loop, but there is no
bladder pocket. I see this feature as a wear-protective
measure as the bladder would otherwise be exposed
to the ripcord routing hardware and metal buckles of
the cummerbund adjustment would make short work of
the hydro bladder material. Access to the hydro
pocket is through the same flap that allows access to
the shoulder ripcord routing loops
Packcloth
lining
pictured
here
is
actual hydro bladder
pocket.
Hydropocket opening is slightly wrinkled
material pictured here. Note vertical loop for
bladder retention
Also note how ripcord cover is sewn, on bottom edge in the 2008 RBAV
and on the top edge in the 2011 RBAV
An obvious difference is in usable PALS. Readily apparent is in the widened front cummerbund retainer flap. Went
from 6 columns in the 2008 RBAV to 7columns in the AF version, and with the odd numbering comes and “offset” in
alignment.
2008 RBAV in Ranger Green 6 PALS channels wide
2011 RBAV-AF in OCP
7 PALS channels wide
An obvious difference is in usable PALS. On the rear exterior face, PALS from 6 columns in the 2008 RBAV to 8 columns in the
RBAV-AF version. Usable in this case would be full height of PALS columns. On the lower half of the 2008 RBAV, the ripcord /
cummerbund adjustment point cover is noticeably raked in toward centerline compared to the RBAV-AF, there is an addition
webbing row in the RBAV-AF leading to a larger overall PALS grid.
2008 RBAV in Ranger Green 6 Usable
PALS channels wide, 13 Rows High
2011 RBAV-AF in OCP 8 PALS usable channels
wide, 15 Rows High
The RBAV’s neck area is lined with loop Velcro to allow for attachment of optional neck/throat armor, and the
removable shoulder pad assemblies are also lined with Velcro to allow for attachment of optional
MSAP/Deltoid/Upper arm armor packages
Removable Shoulder pad assembly
Around the interior of the “neck” hole
Outer cummerbund – Unlike the CIRAS-Land vest that uses an outer cummerbund that is reinforced with thin
polyethylene plastic to provide structure, the RBAV uses a doubled over material for its outer cummerbund, and
there is a loop of webbing on the ends to provide leverage when donning and securing the vest
Front Panel with Outer cummerbund
secured
On the side “wings” of the front vest panel are sewn in pockets with elastic bungee and a snapclosure secured
webbing bar “divider”. This is the Side Plate pocket, which can be configured to hold 6x6 or 6x8 SAPI plates or if not
used in that role, the pocket can be used to carry 2 M4 magazines in a side by side arrangement. The outer
cummerbund wraps around this feature when the RBAV is worn.
Side SAPI plate pocket
Side SAPI plate pocket covered by outer
cummerbund
Comfort – This is a very subjective term and the degree of experience felt will range depending on the user. The
refining of a proven existing design combined with the lighter weight of material and softer “hand” or degree of
firmness reduces the effort needed to accomplish an equivalent range of motion and by default should lead to longer
“wearability” before the user experiences an imparted or “felt” fatigue setting in.
Construction – the base material is 500D Cordura nylon rather than the thicker 1000D Cordura of the CIRAS vest. A
lightweight raschel-knit mesh material forms the bulk of the wearer-side lining. 17337-type webbing is used for the
PALS webbing material, shoulder strap cores, accessory straps and cummerbund adjustment straps. Hardware is
from ITW Nexus. The RBAV AF also has a sewn-in hydration bladder pocket on the rear panel formed from a single
piece of 420D packcloth. The net effect of the 500D use for the vest body is that it allows for better wearer-body
shaping/load distribution, thus alleviating some of the perceived “stress” imparted by looser wearing, bulkier, or
more rigid armor packages.
When correctly configured, the weight is distributed throughout the wearers torso, so it is advisable to configure this
vest to your particular body shape. For an XL sized platform, it could be adjusted to fit someone 6’1”, 310lbs with a
52” chest
Overall, I would be hard pressed to come up with further refinements to this RBAV-AF platform example. Valuewise, you cannot go wrong with the AF or the preceding SF model RBAV carrier. The new “features” may be of
limited or no use to some, thus money can be saved by going the SF route and no “utility” would be lost. However if
your mission needs require wire ”management”, internal hydro pockets, revised release handle cover or some
additional PALS real estate, then you would do well in considering the RBAV-AF as your next BALCS carrier choice.
Thanks to SKD Tactical (skdtac.com) for
providing a demo RBAV-AF for
examination