OCC’s MARS™ Products Receive U.S. and NATO National Stock Numbers

Optical Cable Corporation’s Modular Advanced Reel System (MARS™) family of cable reels has recently been issued National Stock Numbers (NSN) from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). US military branches, the US Department of Defense (DoD), federal agencies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and many foreign governments use NSNs to streamline the provisioning process of standard material items of supply. When added to a product label, the NSN indicates a review and approval for use within the military's logistics supply chain.



OCC’s MARS™ cable reels are the industry’s first lightweight cable deployment reel system designed specifically for the demanding needs of harsh-environment fiber optic installations. Unlike traditional metal-style reels, MARS is constructed of a lightweight, impact modified polymer that is easily transported and is ideal for applications where cable needs to be deployed and retrieved quickly and stored efficiently.

To complement these reels, MARS offers a complete set of accessories such as reel stands, back packs, connector cleaning kits and other products to aid in efficient cable deployment and retrieval. MARS reels are available in a wide range of sizes ranging from 100-meter capacity (based on OCC’s standard 5.8mm ground tactical fiber optic cable) to 1,000-meter capacity.  They are available in 3 standard colors (olive drab, desert tan and black) and can accommodate square or round axles. 


MARS™ reels underwent user evaluation by the U.S. Army Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2012 and earned high praise from evaluators for significant weight reduction and increased ruggedness and durability over standard steel reels.  The MARS reels are currently specified on multiple U.S. Army and Marine Corps cable assembly drawings and specifications.  With the assignment of NSN’s to the MARS family of reels, U.S. and foreign defense agencies will be able to specify and acquire the specific model of reel or reels required to satisfy their mission requirements.

For additional information on OCC's products and solutions, ranging from fiber optic cables and connectors to data centers and cellular distribution systems, contact us today.