{"product_id":"cosmetic-blem-strelka-defender-2-armor-vest","title":"BLEM Strelka Defender 2 Armor Vest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThese are Cosmetic Blemish Defender 2 Armor Vests, which we set aside as \"factory seconds\" but are now offering them at a reduced price if you just want some armor for cheap. The vests retain almost all their functionality and are brand new in box, but all sales are final. See more information below the \"Specs\" section.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDOES NOT INCLUDE POUCHES.\u003c\/span\u003e Comes \"Slick\" with padded armor inserts.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you're interested in more information about the vests or want to buy a non-blem model, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/kommandostore.com\/products\/strelka-defender-2-plate-carrier\"\u003eclick here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \"Emerald\" - It's the rarest variant of one of Russia's most iconic pieces of kit ever, the ubiquitous Fort Defender 2 armor vest. It was the culmination of lessons learned the hard way, and has been serving almost non-stop on the backs of troops since the 90s, but how did it come to be?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo set the stage; what the hell was going on with Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShort answer: a lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong-er answer: with the dissolution of their communist regime came large scale reorganization in their military, too. Like the rest of the world would face in the 80s \u0026amp; 90s, the new flavor of warfare was insurgency, and Russia was about to learn a brutal lesson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRussia wanted to keep the lands which were under her control during the good ol days, and Chechnya, an area bordering the country of Georgia in Southwestern Russia, was high on the list to regain control. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRussia swooped in, at first attempting to \"police\" the rising tensions but the pot was already boiling over. Brutal urban conflict like most of the world had never witnessed broke out. A truly \"CQB\" conflict, Russian troops fought house-to-house, street-to-street, and suffered massive casualties. The conflict would come to an end with a treaty, and let's just say there's a reason it was called the\u003cem\u003e first \u003c\/em\u003eChechen war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSomething had to change. Tactics was one thing, but equipment, which hadn't changed much since the twilight days of the USSR, was lacking. They needed a Defender, one could say...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFort Technology, an up-and-coming manufacturer of equipment was developing a new armor carrier while some of the conflict in Chechnya was still smoldering, and by the end of the 90s, the Defender 1 and soon the Defender 2 carriers were already rolled out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsisting of a soft armor set with configurable up-armoring, it struck a balance between maneuverability and coverage that has without a doubt saved many-a-spetsnaz from gunshots. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut mother Russia couldn't drop her old ways — they tend to hang on to things for quite a while when they work, and to this day, you'll still see Defender 2s in Ukraine...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"Emerald\" version was the result of a special contract for the Spetsnaz - a defender covered in PALS, with a special angled section for quick access gear. Originally an aquamarine-green and completely unobtainable, we sourced originals and resurrected the carrier with a toned down \"Russian Olive Drab\" that matches our other Strelka rigs. The result is undoubtedly a defender 2, but with a twist unlike you'll see even on originals...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArmor Plate compatibility: Due to this being a blemished item, only \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gilliamarms.com\/products\/custom-kommando-store-strelka-defender-2-soft-armor-panels\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esoft plates from GTS armor\u003c\/a\u003e are guaranteed to fit this carrier. If you want to run the non-simulation ballistic hard plates from GTS, we recommend you buy a non-blemished Strelka Defender 2. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1000D Cordura Nylon Construction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRussian \"Olive\" colorway like our SMERSH \u0026amp; Jaeger Rigs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes lower abdomen and collar protector\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHard armor pockets come empty - DIY some simulation plates!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes foam inserts for chest, collar, and abdomen pockets —\u003cem\u003e photos show carrier with the foam inserts but without hard plates inserted in the plate pockets.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOptional bundle includes 3 magazine pouches, a GP pouch, and a radio pouch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMagazine pouches intended for standard-capacity AKM magazines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePALS webbing on front and back with special angled PALS webbing like original \"Emerald\" Defender 2s.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVelcro cummerbund for secure, all-day-comfortable fit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne size fits most: Chest \u0026amp; Height Adjustable from approximately US Size S-2XL\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSizing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike originals, which were sized specifically for each operator, we've opted for a one-size-fits-most system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased off larger existing rigs with the ability to adjust down, it accommodates chest sizes from\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSmall to 2XL\u003c\/strong\u003e, with some compromise on either extreme due to limitations of the original design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shoulder pads are ride-height adjustable and should accommodate most people without issue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCosmetic Blem Item - All Sales Final\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThese Defender Vests have been hand sorted out from the rest of our inventory due to cosmetic blems that generally do not impact the use of the vest:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eCommon issues MAY but do not always include:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eStitching issues which do not affect function\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eSlight dimensional changes which make inserting \u003cstrong\u003eCeramic \u003c\/strong\u003earmor plates difficult and we can't guarantee fit (but the included foam panels work, and soft armor)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"RAQ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44591126315050,"sku":"BLEM-DFNDR-VST","price":229.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2602\/7094\/files\/Square_Email_-_2026-07-22T134717.623.png?v=1784749869","url":"https:\/\/kommandostore.com\/products\/cosmetic-blem-strelka-defender-2-armor-vest","provider":"KommandoStore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}