Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Avon Protection awarded US DoD ASPIRE HMI contracts

Defence

Avon Protection awarded US DoD ASPIRE HMI contracts

Avon Protection has been awarded three contracts by the US Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) ASPIRE HMI (Advanced System for Protection and Integrated Reduction of Encumbrances Hood/Mask Interface) programme, which is executed by the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND).

Image courtesy Avon Protection

The three contracts will cover the design and development of a solution to optimise integration between currently fielded M50 and M53A1 CBRN protective masks and CBRN protective garment hoods on a CBRN suit. Avon Protection will apply its extensive experience as a provider of CBRN protective systems to optimise integration of personal protective equipment.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

Steve Elwell, President, Avon Protection, said: “The risk a customer faces when procuring protective equipment as individual systems from different suppliers is that there are potential integration issues at the points at which these different systems meet, no matter how advanced each individual system is.

“Our approach is to mitigate this risk by designing our equipment to integrate seamlessly together and it is this understanding of the importance of interface optimisation between systems that we will bring to our work on this contract.”

Advertisement
ODU RT

The DoD is a strategic partner for Avon Protection, with millions of Avon Protection M50/M51 and M53/M53A1 air purifying respirators (APRs) in use across all branches of the US military.

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
UK Defence Diplomacy Strategy launched

Defence

UK Defence Diplomacy Strategy launched

24 March 2026

UK military personnel will be put through their paces as part of a new diplomacy training programme, upskilling specialists in negotiation and languages as part of the UK's first Defence Diplomacy Strategy launched today. 

DroneShield and OpenWorks Engineering expand C2 interoperability

Defence Security

DroneShield and OpenWorks Engineering expand C2 interoperability

24 March 2026

Counter-unmanned systems (C-UxS) solutions provider, DroneShield, today announced interoperability between DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control software and optical sensing technologies from OpenWorks Engineering.

Fiona Walters takes over as Serco’s UK & Europe CEO

Defence Security Space

Fiona Walters takes over as Serco’s UK & Europe CEO

24 March 2026

Fiona Walters has taken up her role as CEO of the UK & Europe division of Serco, having joined Serco in September 2025 from G4S, where she was Regional CEO for the UK & Ireland, leading a team of more than 30,000 people.

GKN Aerospace delivers upgraded RM12 engine to Swedish Armed Forces

Defence

GKN Aerospace delivers upgraded RM12 engine to Swedish Armed Forces

24 March 2026

GKN Aerospace has successfully delivered the first upgraded RM12 engine to the Swedish Armed Forces, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing RM12EP (Enhanced Performance) programme.

Advertisement
ODU RT
FNX Ventures invests in Sentinel Photonics

Defence

FNX Ventures invests in Sentinel Photonics

24 March 2026

Sentinel Photonics, a UK defence technology company specialising in laser detection, prevention and intelligence, has secured investment from European venture capital firm, FNX Ventures.

Spectra launches GENSS production version

Defence Space Events

Spectra launches GENSS production version

23 March 2026

Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, specialists in delivering secure, reliable and resilient beyond line-of-sight communications for operations in denied and contested environments, has formally launched the production version of GENSS at the Satellite Show.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner