Armor Holdings
Armor Holdings was a United States defense manufacturer specializing in military vehicles, body armor, tactical equipment, and law-enforcement and personal-protection products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Armor Holdings, Inc. was an American defense and security-equipment company whose activities covered military vehicles, personal armor, tactical equipment, aerospace protection systems, and law-enforcement products. The company originated in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 as American Body Armor and Equipment, Inc., giving it an initial focus on protective equipment for personnel. Its later portfolio broadened substantially through acquisitions and government-contract activity, positioning the business as a supplier across several parts of the defense and public-safety markets. A change in control took place in January 1996, when Kanders Florida Holdings, Inc. and other investors acquired stock held by the company’s two largest shareholders. The corporate name Armor Holdings, Inc. was adopted on August 21, 1996. During the following decade, the company expanded beyond body armor through a series of acquisitions. In 2001 it acquired O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt of Fairfield, Ohio, a specialist in vehicle armoring and security, and renamed that business Centigon. In 2003 it acquired Simula, Inc., which developed military seating systems, helicopter cockpit air-bag systems, small-arms protective inserts, and parachutes. Simula’s work included crashworthy armored crew seats for the U.S. Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Armor Holdings continued to build its protective-equipment business in 2005 by acquiring Second Chance, a body-armor manufacturer, for $45 million. Its defense-manufacturing activities also included tactical vehicles and vehicle-protection systems. In 2006, the company received a $649 million order from the U.S. Army to manufacture tactical vehicle trucks and acquired the vehicle division of Stewart & Stevenson, a business associated with production of the Army’s tactical vehicle trucks. Armor Holdings’ product portfolio included the Caiman mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, the Pinzgauer high-mobility all-terrain vehicle, armor kits and components for military vehicles, and much of the U.S. Army’s MOLLE load-carrying equipment. It also submitted its Maneuver Sustainment Vehicle for evaluation in the Future Tactical Truck System competition, alongside Navistar International and Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems announced on May 7, 2007 that its U.S. subsidiary, BAE Systems Inc., would acquire Armor Holdings for approximately $4.1 billion, or about $4.5 billion including net debt. The transaction closed on July 31, 2007, ending Armor Holdings as an independent company. Its principal business units were reorganized within BAE Systems as Mobility & Protection Systems, BAE Systems Products Group, and BAE Systems Mobile Security. These activities were subsequently reorganized within BAE Systems Land and Armaments. Accordingly, Armor Holdings is best understood historically as a defense and security-company brand rather than an active standalone brand.
History
Armor Holdings began in 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida, under the name American Body Armor and Equipment, Inc. Its original business was centered on body armor and protective equipment, but the company later developed into a diversified military and security supplier. A change in control occurred in January 1996, when Kanders Florida Holdings, Inc. and other investors purchased stock held by the company’s two largest shareholders. The company adopted the Armor Holdings name on August 21, 1996. The company’s expansion was driven in part by acquisitions. In 2001, it purchased O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt and renamed the business Centigon, strengthening its vehicle-armoring and security capabilities. In 2003, Armor Holdings acquired Simula, Inc., a developer and producer of military seating systems, helicopter cockpit air-bag systems, Small Arms Protective Insert armor, and parachutes. Simula had also produced crashworthy armored crew seats for the U.S. Army’s Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. In 2005, Armor Holdings acquired Second Chance, another body-armor manufacturer, for $45 million. By the middle of the 2000s, Armor Holdings had become active in military vehicles and tactical equipment as well as personnel protection. Its reported 2006 U.S. Army order for tactical vehicle trucks was valued at $649 million. That year it also acquired the vehicle division of Stewart & Stevenson, which had built tactical vehicle trucks for the Army. The resulting portfolio included the Caiman MRAP, Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, Pinzgauer high-mobility vehicles, armor kits and components for military platforms, and MOLLE equipment used by the U.S. Army. The company’s Maneuver Sustainment Vehicle was also submitted for evaluation in the Future Tactical Truck System competition. On May 7, 2007, BAE Systems announced an agreement to acquire Armor Holdings through BAE Systems Inc. The announced purchase price was approximately $4.1 billion, rising to about $4.5 billion when net debt was included. Completion on July 31, 2007 ended Armor Holdings’ independent corporate existence. BAE Systems integrated the company’s activities into Mobility & Protection Systems, BAE Systems Products Group, and BAE Systems Mobile Security, with the divisions later reorganized within BAE Systems Land and Armaments. The former company also became associated with a federal investigation into Zylon body armor. In October 2008, the Department of Justice announced a $30 million settlement with Armor Holdings Products LLC over allegations that defective Zylon armor had been knowingly supplied to the government in violation of the Federal False Claims Act. This post-acquisition matter is one of the most significant regulatory and legal events connected with the Armor Holdings name.
- 2008
Zylon body-armor settlement
[2]The Department of Justice announced a $30 million settlement with Armor Holdings Products LLC concerning alleged sales of defective Zylon body armor to the government.
- 2007
Acquired by BAE Systems
[1]BAE Systems completed its acquisition of Armor Holdings on July 31, ending the company’s existence as an independent business.
- 2006
Tactical vehicle expansion
[1]The company received a reported $649 million U.S. Army tactical-truck order and acquired Stewart & Stevenson’s vehicle division.
- 2005
Acquisition of Second Chance
[1]Armor Holdings acquired the body-armor manufacturer Second Chance for $45 million.
- 2003
Acquisition of Simula
[1]The acquisition added military seating, helicopter cockpit protection, SAPI armor, parachutes, and related aerospace survivability capabilities.
- 2001
Acquisition of O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt
[1]Armor Holdings acquired the Fairfield, Ohio-based vehicle-security company and renamed it Centigon.
- 1996
Change in control and adoption of Armor Holdings name
[1]A change in control occurred in January, and the company adopted the Armor Holdings, Inc. name on August 21.
- 1969
Company founded as American Body Armor and Equipment
[1]American Body Armor and Equipment, Inc. was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, with an initial focus on body armor and protective equipment.
Products and positioning
An integrated defense and security supplier serving military, law-enforcement, and personal-protection customers through vehicles, armor, tactical equipment, and aerospace survivability systems.
Mine-resistant military vehicle
Caiman MRAP
The Caiman was a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle associated with Armor Holdings’ military-vehicle portfolio. It represented the company’s expansion from personnel protection into protected mobility and battlefield transportation.
Military logistics vehicle
Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
Armor Holdings supplied vehicles and related capabilities for the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles program. The line served transport and logistics requirements and formed part of the company’s broader tactical-truck business.
Military all-terrain vehicle
Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle
The Pinzgauer was a high-mobility all-terrain vehicle included in Armor Holdings’ vehicle offerings. It complemented the company’s heavier tactical and protected-mobility products with a platform intended for demanding off-road operations.
Tactical load-carrying equipment
MOLLE equipment
Armor Holdings produced much of the U.S. Army’s MOLLE equipment. MOLLE is a modular load-carrying system used to attach pouches and mission equipment to military individual equipment and packs.
Aerospace survivability equipment · 2003
Simula military seating systems
Through Simula, Armor Holdings offered military seating and crew-protection systems, including crashworthy armored seats developed for U.S. Army Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. The acquisition also added cockpit air-bag and parachute capabilities.
Ballistic armor · 2003
Small Arms Protective Insert armor
Small Arms Protective Insert systems were part of the armor technologies brought into Armor Holdings through Simula. These inserts provide hard ballistic protection for body-armor systems used by military personnel.
Controversies
2008
Zylon body armor False Claims Act settlement
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Armor Holdings Products LLC would pay $30 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly supplied defective Zylon body armor to the U.S. government. The matter formed part of a broader government and military investigation into the performance of Zylon armor.
Brand decisions
2007
Sell Armor Holdings to BAE SystemsM&ABackground
BAE Systems sought to expand its U.S. defense portfolio through Armor Holdings’ vehicle, protection, tactical-equipment, and security businesses.
Action taken
BAE Systems announced a purchase of Armor Holdings for approximately $4.1 billion, or about $4.5 billion including net debt, and completed the transaction on July 31, 2007.
Aftermath
Armor Holdings ceased operating as an independent company, and its units were reorganized within BAE Systems.
Announced acquisition value. $4.1 billion purchase price; approximately $4.5 billion including net debt (2007)
2005
Acquire Second ChanceM&ABackground
Armor Holdings continued consolidating the body-armor market and strengthening its personnel-protection business.
Action taken
The company acquired Second Chance, a body-armor manufacturer, for $45 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition enlarged Armor Holdings’ body-armor manufacturing footprint.
Acquisition price. $45 million (2005)
2003
Acquire SimulaM&ABackground
The acquisition supported expansion into aerospace survivability, military seating, helicopter protection, armor inserts, and parachutes.
Action taken
Armor Holdings acquired Simula, Inc. and incorporated its defense and aerospace technologies into the group.
Aftermath
Armor Holdings gained military seating and aircraft-protection capabilities, including systems associated with Black Hawk and Apache helicopters.
2001
Acquire O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt and create CentigonM&ABackground
Armor Holdings sought to broaden its protective-security activities beyond body armor into armored vehicles and vehicle security.
Action taken
It acquired O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt and renamed the acquired business Centigon.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Armor Holdings’ vehicle-armoring and mobile-security capabilities.
Recent events
- 2007
BAE Systems announces acquisition of Armor Holdings[1]
M&A
BAE Systems announced that its U.S. subsidiary would purchase Armor Holdings for approximately $4.1 billion, with an enterprise value of about $4.5 billion including net debt.
- 2007
BAE Systems completes acquisition and reorganizes Armor Holdings businesses[1]
M&A
The acquisition of Armor Holdings was completed on July 31, 2007. Its operating units were absorbed into BAE Systems organizations covering mobility and protection, products, and mobile security.
- 2006
Armor Holdings receives major U.S. Army tactical-vehicle order[1]
Other
Armor Holdings obtained a reported $649 million order from the U.S. Army to manufacture tactical vehicle trucks. The company also acquired Stewart & Stevenson’s vehicle division during the same year.
Sources2 sources
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