Enhanced Combat Helmet (United States)
Encyclopedia
The Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) is a United States Marine Corps
program to replace the combat helmets of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines using thermoplastics instead of the ballistic fibers used on the current generation combat helmets.
but is thicker. The helmet’s shell is made of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material. It must protect 35% better against small-arms fire and fragmentation than the Advanced Combat Helmet. The helmet is required to protect against certain rifle projectiles. The helmet is of the “tactical cut” type and thus offers less coverage but does enable better mobility. The helmet will be compatible with camouflage fabric helmet covers. The replacement of the Advanced Combat Helmet with the Enhanced Combat Helmet has been likened to the transition from the Humvee to the MRAP
.
The helmet has been shown nearly impenetrable to fragments fired by test guns. In a v50 test, guns were unable to attain the velocity required to get 50% of the fragments through a helmet. The helmet has vastly exceeded the 35% ballistic improvement requirement.
The helmets design allows for the addition of devices such as communications and night-vision equipment.
The Army is planning on using the existing pads used on the Advanced Combat Helmet for the ECH. A single pad that cushions the entire helmet may be developed. The ECH has a 4-point chinstrap/napestrap head retention system. The Marine/Navy and Army variants are differentiated in that the Marine/Navy version uses an X-Back retention system (called the Class I) and the Army uses the H-Back retention system (called the Class II).
was awarded $4.7 million, Gentex
was awarded $1.8 million, BAE Systems
Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. was awarded $764,000, and Ceradyne
was awarded $729,000. Testing in September revealed that each helmet failed in ballistic and/or blunt force tests. In February 2010 the Navy joined the program and issued their own requirements. Marine Corps officials suggested design improvements such as better materials to industry and testing resumed in June 2010. Three vendors will be downselected and the remaining two will test in November. If the program proceeds as planned the Army will acquire 200,000, the Marine Corps will acquire 38,500, and the Navy will acquire 6,700.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
program to replace the combat helmets of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines using thermoplastics instead of the ballistic fibers used on the current generation combat helmets.
Design
The ECH’s profile is very similar to the Advanced Combat HelmetAdvanced Combat Helmet
The Advanced Combat Helmet is the United States Army's current combat helmet. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...
but is thicker. The helmet’s shell is made of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material. It must protect 35% better against small-arms fire and fragmentation than the Advanced Combat Helmet. The helmet is required to protect against certain rifle projectiles. The helmet is of the “tactical cut” type and thus offers less coverage but does enable better mobility. The helmet will be compatible with camouflage fabric helmet covers. The replacement of the Advanced Combat Helmet with the Enhanced Combat Helmet has been likened to the transition from the Humvee to the MRAP
MRAP
MRAP stands for Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peuples , and is an anti-racist French NGO, created in 1949...
.
The helmet has been shown nearly impenetrable to fragments fired by test guns. In a v50 test, guns were unable to attain the velocity required to get 50% of the fragments through a helmet. The helmet has vastly exceeded the 35% ballistic improvement requirement.
The helmets design allows for the addition of devices such as communications and night-vision equipment.
The Army is planning on using the existing pads used on the Advanced Combat Helmet for the ECH. A single pad that cushions the entire helmet may be developed. The ECH has a 4-point chinstrap/napestrap head retention system. The Marine/Navy and Army variants are differentiated in that the Marine/Navy version uses an X-Back retention system (called the Class I) and the Army uses the H-Back retention system (called the Class II).
Development
ECH development began in 2007. Solicitations were accepted in late April until early June 2009. In July, more than $8 million was awarded to four vendors for five helmet designs in July 2009. Mine Safety AppliancesMine Safety Appliances
Mine Safety Appliances, or MSA, is a maker of sophisticated safety products that help protect workers who may be exposed to a variety of hazardous conditions...
was awarded $4.7 million, Gentex
Gentex
Gentex Corporation manufactures automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors and camera-based driver assistance systems to the global automotive industry. The company also provides commercial smoke alarms and signaling devices to the North American fire protection market, as well as dimmable aircraft...
was awarded $1.8 million, BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. was awarded $764,000, and Ceradyne
Ceradyne
Ceradyne, Incorporated, is a Costa Mesa, California, USA, manufacturer of ceramics products traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.In addition to producing ceramic components for industrial processes such as silicon foundries and ceramic fuel pellets for nuclear reactors, Ceradyne researches and...
was awarded $729,000. Testing in September revealed that each helmet failed in ballistic and/or blunt force tests. In February 2010 the Navy joined the program and issued their own requirements. Marine Corps officials suggested design improvements such as better materials to industry and testing resumed in June 2010. Three vendors will be downselected and the remaining two will test in November. If the program proceeds as planned the Army will acquire 200,000, the Marine Corps will acquire 38,500, and the Navy will acquire 6,700.
See also
- Head Gear SystemHead Gear SystemThe Head Gear System is a future headgear ensemble under development by the U.S. Army. HGS attempts to integrate head protection against ballistics, fragmentation, blast, blunt force, flash heat, and noise into a single lightweight, modular, scalable headgear system...
- Lightweight HelmetLightweight HelmetThe Lightweight Helmet is the U.S. Marine Corps replacement for the PASGT combat helmet. As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot...
- Advanced Combat HelmetAdvanced Combat HelmetThe Advanced Combat Helmet is the United States Army's current combat helmet. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...
- Soldier Protection DemonstrationSoldier Protection DemonstrationThe Soldier Protection Demonstration is a PEO Soldier program for evaluating ballistic vests for the U.S. Army. Seven tests have been conducted since August 2006 and the eighth is underway.Demo 1Conducted in August 2006.Demo 2Conducted in May 2007.Demo 3...