Direct Action plate carrier: Spitfire or Spitfire QR?
The Spitfire is the carrier that the rest of the Direct Action system is built around. Laser-cut laminate, Cordura 500D and softshell keep it light without feeling flimsy.
The Spitfire Plate Carrier is the base model. Its rear zip takes Crye AVS-compatible back panels, and the front works with Mayflower and Velocity Systems chest rigs.
The Spitfire QR Plate Carrier adds Duraflex QRS quick-release buckles on the shoulders and cummerbund. You can get it off fast when someone needs to reach an injury or when you're climbing out of a vehicle.
Pick the Spitfire if you want the lighter, simpler carrier. Pick the QR if you train for casualty care or spend your days in vehicles.
Both come in size M, and the plates are sold separately. To see the Spitfire next to the Haley Strategic and Spiritus Systems carriers, head to plate carriers.
Spitfire back panels and front flaps
The Spitfire's rear zip lets you change what rides on your back without taking the carrier apart. Each panel zips straight on:
- Spitfire Assault Panel (129,90€): three hook-and-loop pouches for flashbangs or spare mags. Below them sit a velour-lined pocket for optics or NODs and a flat pocket for a hydration bladder.
- Spitfire Mk II Utility Back Panel (from 169,90€): two large zippered pouches for a light jacket, NODs or batteries, plus a sleeve for a bladder.
- Spitfire Mk II Backpack Panel (from 219,90€): a small daypack that zips onto the carrier. It comes with detachable shoulder straps, so it also works as a pack on its own.
The front is just as modular. The Triple Rifle Magazine Flap (from 69,90€) replaces the standard front flap and holds three AR, AK or SR-25 magazines. Its QD buckles also let you clip it into a chest rig setup.
The Spitfire Mk II Underpouch (from 79,90€) hangs from the loop panel below the front plate. It's sized for gloves, a phone, ear pro or a small rain jacket, and it stays clear of your belt.
Direct Action pouches: magazines, admin and dump
Direct Action's magazine pouches use a stiff laminate body with retention you can adjust. The open-top ones stay open for a fast reload but still hold the mag when you snag on something.
All three go on MOLLE or straight onto a belt.
The Dump Pouch stays folded flat until you pull its Hypalon tab. It then opens to about 25 × 20 cm, and the mesh bottom lets dirt and water drain out. At about 100 g, you won't notice it until you need somewhere to put the empties.
The JTAC Admin Pouch Mk II opens flat like a clamshell. It holds a map sleeve, a notebook and a modern smartphone, and cords inside stop the contents from falling out.
Direct Action medical gear: IFAKs, Lysander and Combat Stretcher
Direct Action makes medical pouches for your chest, your belt and the space under your plate carrier.
The Lysander MED Waist Bag is shaped to sit under a plate carrier. It has strips inside to organise your kit. There are also pockets for shears and TCCC cards and a rear pocket for large flat dressings.
The Combat Stretcher folds into its own stow pouch. That pouch mounts on a plate carrier, a belt or the side of the Lysander. Unfolded, the stretcher has eight carry handles and two flat pockets for medical kit. Two layers of nylon micro rip-stop keep it light.
Direct Action Vanguard combat uniform
The Vanguard line is made to be worn under a plate carrier. All three tops have pockets at the elbows for pad inserts, and the trousers have them at the knees.
- Vanguard Combat Shirt: a flame-resistant Polartec PowerDry torso under the armour and hard-wearing NYCO sleeves.
- Vanguard Field Shirt: a full NyCo shirt with a hidden zip and a stand-up collar. Its zippered chest pockets also open up as vents.
- Vanguard Softshell Combat Shirt: a softshell top with a hood that fits over a helmet and stows away. Underarm zips let the heat out.
- Vanguard Combat Trousers: NYCO with stretch softshell gussets and Cordura 500D at the knees. A pair in size M weighs 602 g.
The Protective Pad Inserts are slim neoprene pads made for those knee and elbow pockets. The trousers also take most aftermarket knee pad inserts.
The shirts come in sizes S to 2XL, and the trousers go up to 3XL. Most pieces come in Multicam, Multicam Tropic and Ranger Green, and Ranger Green costs less. The Softshell Combat Shirt comes in Multicam only.
Direct Action helmet cover: FAST Mk II
The Fast Helmet Cover Mk II fits FAST-style helmets in sizes M and L. The Mk II adds two rows of MOLLE at the back for a battery pack or a counterweight. It also has an NVG retention loop and slots for lights and other helmet accessories.
Direct Action bags: Deployment Bag and Liberator
The Deployment Bag Small is a 56.6-litre Cordura bag that weighs 570 g. It folds down when it's empty, and a clear ID window shows whose kit is inside.
The Liberator Roll Bag is for when the whole loadout travels. It holds 176.6 litres on two wheels, with a padded helmet compartment on top and a rifle sleeve for barrels up to 16 inches. The zips take padlocks. Stand it upright and the stiff frame turns it into a makeshift locker.
Direct Action – Made in Poland
Direct Action started in 2014 as a line within Helikon-Tex and has since grown into a brand of its own. Since 2023, all of its tactical gear has been made in three factories in Poland. Their production is certified to ISO 9001 and to AQAP 2110, which is NATO's quality standard for defence suppliers.
The brand also carries some Polish history. Key products are named after the aircraft Polish pilots flew with the RAF, from the Battle of Britain to the end of the war. That's where the Spitfire gets its name.
We keep the range in stock in Helsinki, so it ships in the same parcel as the rest of your kit. The price already includes VAT, and Posti and FedEx show their delivery options before you pay.
Your Spitfire will probably arrive before you've decided between Multicam and Multicam Tropic.
FAQ
Is Direct Action part of Helikon-Tex?
Direct Action started in 2014 as a line within Helikon-Tex. Today it's a separate brand. The Polish company Entire M runs both of them.
Which magazines fit the Direct Action rifle pouches?
The Speed Reload Rifle and the Triple Rifle Magazine Flap take AR, AK and SR-25 style magazines. That covers 5.56, 7.62×39 and 7.62×51 on the most common rifles.
Do you ship Direct Action across the EU?
Yes. We ship from our warehouse in Helsinki to the rest of the EU. VAT is included in the listed price, and there are no customs charges on deliveries inside the EU.
