what companies dealing with allegedly defective military earplugs

3M Company is one of the main companies dealing with allegedly defective military earplugs. They supplied the Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) to the U.S. military from 2003 to 2015. These earplugs were designed to provide dual protection, allowing soldiers to hear low-level sounds while protecting against loud noises during combat. However, a whistleblower lawsuit filed against 3M in 2016 claimed that the earplugs were defectively designed, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus among military personnel. The lawsuit further alleged that 3M knew about the design defects but failed to disclose them to the military.

The U.S. government intervened in the lawsuit, and in 2018, 3M agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve the allegations without admitting liability. Despite the settlement, individual servicemembers continue to file lawsuits against 3M seeking compensation for their hearing-related injuries.

It's important to note that 3M is not the only company that has faced allegations of defective military earplugs. However, they are the most commonly associated company in this particular case