Ballistic Armor Co.

Ballistic Armor Co. and the Bastion® helmet line

Ballistic Armor Co. (BAC) designs and manufactures ballistic helmets for law enforcement under the Bastion® name. The company states that its entire helmet collection is designed and made in White City, Oregon, and that it is 100% American owned and operated. Its catalog is organized around three helmet models plus a range of covers and accessories.

Every Bastion® helmet is described as independently tested to Threat Level HG2 as defined in NIJ Standard 0123.00. The company says it maintains lab tests and strict chain-of-custody compliance for every part of its helmets, and that lab reports are available during procurement evaluation.

The three Bastion® models

The lineup is presented as a comparison of protection, warranty and rail configuration, with published MSRP figures:

• Bastion® Ghost — a full ballistic helmet with a clean exterior, no rails and no attachment points. Threat level HG2, 10-year manufacturer's defect warranty on the helmet; no rail system, so no rail hardware is warranted. MSRP from $600.
• Bastion® Patrol — built for daily carry with resin SlideLock™ rails in stealth black, intended for lights, communications units and cameras. HG2 protection, 10-year helmet warranty and a 10-year limited manufacturer's warranty on the rails against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use, excluding misuse, normal wear, unauthorized modifications and accidental damage. MSRP from $775.
• Bastion® Operator — the maximum-capability platform, aimed at operators running night vision goggles, cameras and communications simultaneously. Aluminum SlideLock™ or M-LOK™ rails carry a lifetime warranty against defects, including under active use and abuse. HG2 protection and 10-year helmet warranty. MSRP from $1,150.

Rail warranties are non-transferable and apply to the original purchaser only.

Procurement support for agencies

BAC frames its offer around agency purchasing rather than individual buyers. It accepts purchase orders from law enforcement agencies and government entities, with terms available to qualified agencies, and provides formal quotes with supporting documentation for requisitions. Qualified agencies may request a test-and-evaluation (T&E) helmet for up to one month to check fit, comfort and compatibility before committing.

For procurement files, the company lists independent HG2 lab reports, chain-of-custody records, a single-manufacturer justification letter for brand-name or sole-source purchases, a capability statement and a sample warranty certificate. Lab reports are described as export controlled and are requested through the sales address.

The company also states that many agencies use grant funds to purchase BAC helmets and that it supports grant applications with the necessary documentation, while pointing agencies to their specific program's eligibility rules.

Research on how agencies choose a supplier

BAC notes that, unlike plates, ballistic helmets have no DOJ Compliant Products List, so the research burden falls on the agency. The company says it compiled a list of the most important criteria used to evaluate a helmet supplier from more than 500 chiefs, SWAT supervisors, sheriffs and quartermasters, and offers it as a resource to simplify procurement.

Warranty and documentation

The helmet itself carries a 10-year manufacturer's defect warranty across the line. Rail coverage varies by model, as described above. Documentation available to buyers includes the HG2 lab reports, chain-of-custody records, the sole-source justification letter, a capability statement and a sample warranty certificate.