Hawker Excel

Modular Search and EOD Solution
Fueled by world-class production capabilities and a desire to continuously provide the latest innovations in Search and EOD Suit technologies, United Shield International introduces the Hawker. The “Hawker” name commemorates 100 years since the end of the World War I and the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was inspired by Captain Lanoe Hawker VC, a Royal Engineers Officer who exemplified timeless innovation and commitment to excellence. This dedication to excellence continues today.

This high performance EOD platform is engineered according to a modular suit philosophy, which gives the operator the option to select a future upgrade or utilize the chosen suit for a wider range of EOD Search or Disarm operations. The Operator can simply choose whether the suit will be initially deployed as a Search Suit (SS) or EOD suit (ES) and will not limit future upgrade capabilities. The operator can select different helmet and visor options, accessories, and soft and hard armour plate configurations according to the operation.

Core Product Choice

Choose whether the suit will be initially designed as a Search (SS) or EOD suit (ES). This will not limit the future upgrade capability, it will only narrow the choices for the suit being purchased now.

advanced aramid composites

Engineered from Operator Feedback

The Hawker Excel is the end result of utilizing operator feedback over the past 15 years of supplying Mine Clearance, Search Suits and EOD suits.

FRAGMENTATION
The ability to choose the required level of World-leading zonal soft armour protection, using legacy Aramid material and the latest generation materials, all proven by independent testing.

OVER PRESSURE
The Hawker Excel Suit provides advanced protection against blast overpressure, proven by independent testing.

OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY AND MOBILITY
The choice of hard armour plate allows the operator to select either standard 10”x12”NIJ Level III or IV protection levels or extended blast plates allowing additional protection to both the operators neck and groin. In full EOD suit configurations blast plates with World leading fragmentation can be tailored to provide either the lowest weight and highest mobility or to provide the maximum coverage and therefore protection. Whichever hard armour plate option is chosen, it does not have to be fitted to the suit, until the operator is ready to approach the device. This reduces pre-operation fatigue, the plate can be removed and refitted in the field to allow scaling of obstacles with minimum effort.

UPGRADABILITY
The suit protection levels and accessories are modular and allow the user to control their annual budget and provide the capability for future upgrades.

advanced aramid composites

Soft Armour Protection Levels

advanced aramid composites

Search Suit Options

Search Suit options can be upgraded to a full EOD ensemble through the addition of a full EOD helmet and EOD Blast plate package.

Helmet and Visor

MICH with 250m/s fragmentation protection
MICH with 550m/s fragmentation protection
MICH with full ballistic visor (providing fragmentation protection of 650 m/s)

Additional Hard Armour Protection
Standard 10” x 12” Ballistic plates providing an NIJ III+ or IV protection level for the operators front, back or both

Search plates available in a number of configurations

2-Part or 3-Part
In two widths - 10” or 12”
In two STANAG 2920 protection levels:

UPGRADABILITY
The suit protection levels and accessories are modular and allow the user to control their annual budget and provide the capability for future upgrades.

EOD Suit Options

EOD Suit can also be used as a Search Suit (SS) by purchasing the SS Helmet and Visor combination and the SS Hard Armour protection packages. An open faced helmet which provides a helmet with a STANAG 2920 V50 protection level of 680m/s and visors providing a V50 of >800m/s.

Helmet and Visor

EOD helmet with standard visor
EOD helmet with additional CBRN compatible visor
Choice of either standard operation or CBRN compatible visors
Single Handed visor lift mechanism
Four-point harness
Low noise adjustable speed cooling fan
Rechargeable battery system
Head torch
Provision for wired or wireless comms
Option for functional remote control
Choice of visors with STANAG 2920 V5 of either 250m/s, 550m/s or NIJ IIIA
Visors can either be factory fitted or retro-fitted to a in-service helmet with a strap system

Additional Hard Armour Protection
For full EOD operations:

2-Part or 3 Part Plate
In two widths 10” or 12”
In a single World beating

Accessories

Cooling suit
External cassette contains pump, rechargeable battery and water reservoir.

Wrist Controller
Located on either arm and secured with hook/ loop tape with three buttons to control:

Light on/off
Helmet fan fast
Helmet fan slow

Carbon Undergarment
One-piece undergarment manufactured from Woven Micro Polyester Activated Carbon Fibre, with elasticated closures and Aquaseal Zip. Variants: Two-piece (separate hood), three piece (including socks).
Chemical Protection Performance:
Chemical Agent Challenge UG/cm2/24 hours. Mustard Permeation laid droplet, 10g/m2 (30°C 5%RH). Exceeds NATO AEP38 Standard.

Lighting
Integrated lighting allowing the operator to choose between red, blue and white light.

CBRN Mask
Providing CBRN protection via compatibility with the United Shield EOD helmet, the Avon fire hardened FM54 Air Purifying Respirator provides Specialist Operators maximum level of protection to the face, eyes and respiratory tract from Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN), Riot Agents, Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICS) and Toxic Industrial Materials, while maintaining extreme user flexibility as mission profiles change.

Armour Visor
A steel visor is available to fit over the regular polycarbonate visor. This has been especially designed to provide a high fragmentation protection against shaped devices with high power.

Communications

PTT and VOX Hard Wire communications system providing full duplex communications between the EOD commander and the EOD operator connected by 100m of field cable. It is used for simplicity, ease of use and produces no RF emissions

The integrated helmet communication headset consists of twin ultra low profile earpieces and noise cancelling microphone which connects to the common user unit via a rugged 80mm Press to Talk (PTT) unit or to the VOX switching unit. The helmet connector is a quick disconnect NEXUS plug and socket.

The EOD commanders headset is a military style, robust, single sided headset with flexible boom microphone and a mesh head strap, an in-line PTT and clothing clip.

Ambient sound
The Ambient Sound System provides the operator with improved situational awareness.

Video
The EOD Live video system allows additional members of the Disposal team to see exactly what is happening in real time, while the operator is at the device. This is essential when giving the technician collective advice and instructions. The camera is extremely light and mounted on the helmet.

A camera rotation adjustment within the housing provides the ability to set at the optimal location so that visibility is not obstructed. It also allows remote technicians and Commanders to observe exactly what the operator is seeing.

Connection between the monitor and camera via a 200m hard-wire cable, giving confidence that no interference is possible to the feed. The image itself is shown on a high-resolution ruggedized monitor to ensure clarity.