Point Blank Enterprises

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 1973
HQ: Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
Employees: ~510
Parent: Owned by JLL Partners

Indexes

Tactical Gear

Overview

Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. (PBE) develops, manufactures, and distributes protective solutions including body armor and tactical gear for the U.S. military, Department of Defense, federal agencies, and domestic and international law enforcement and corrections professionals.¹²⁴ It maintains a portfolio of brands such as Point Blank Body Armor, Protective Products, PACA, PARACLETE, The Protective Group, First Tactical, and United Shield International Limited, with manufacturing facilities in Florida.¹²

History

Point Blank Body Armor was founded in 1973, followed by PACA Body Armor in 1975, PARACLETE in 1993, and Protective Products in 1995.¹ In 1999, Point Blank was selected as the sole-source supplier for the U.S. Military Interceptor OTV, and from 2004-2006 produced the Deltoid Axillary Protection System (DAPS) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI) for the U.S. Army.¹ The Protective Group (TPG), originally a division of AVCO (now Textron), was recently acquired by Point Blank Enterprises.³

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Point Blank Body Armor (ballistic vests)	Military and law enforcement protection	$500 - $2,000
PACA Body Armor (concealable carriers)	Covert law enforcement use	$400 - $1,500
PARACLETE (tactical armor systems)	High-mobility special operations	$600 - $2,500
Protective Products (soft armor inserts)	Ballistic panel solutions	$200 - $800
First Tactical (duty gear and apparel)	Everyday tactical equipment	$50 - $300
The Protective Group (vehicle armor)	Survivability for platforms	$1,000 - $10,000+

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in two state-of-the-art facilities in Florida.² The Protective Group maintains headquarters, engineering, and production in Miami Lakes, Florida.³ Manufacturing focuses on ballistic systems and composite armor solutions.¹²³

Notable Products

Interceptor OTV - Sole-source outer tactical vest for U.S. Military since 1999.
Deltoid Axillary Protection System (DAPS) - Upper arm and shoulder protection produced for U.S. Army 2004-2006.
Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI) - Side protection inserts for U.S. Army 2004-2006.
PARACLETE Armor Systems - Lightweight tactical body armor for special operations.
PACA Concealable Armor - Low-profile ballistic carriers for undercover use.

Reputation

Point Blank Enterprises is recognized by military and law enforcement professionals for its established role in supplying U.S. Department of Defense contracts and a broad brand portfolio.¹² It holds a position as a key supplier of tested ballistic solutions with facilities supporting innovation in protection.²³ Some perceptions note its scale through acquisitions like TPG, enhancing capabilities in vehicle and personnel survivability.³⁵ Criticisms are limited in available data, though industry competition exists around comfort and weight in armor systems.¹

Sources (5)