The GAO just issued a brief report looking at the services’ efforts to mitigate blunt impact trauma by replacing the old suspension system in combat helmets with one that uses padding attached directly to the interior of the helmet.
The report was issued to members of the congressional armed services and appropriations committees to bring their staffs up to speed on how these padding systems came about. It doesn’t look at the testing of the systems or anything like that and, to be perfectly honest, it’s pretty “no duh” except for a couple things.
First, the report indicates the Army and Marine Corps have been pushing industry to develop more advanced pads that can absorb nearly a quarter more impact than the ones in current helmets. So far industry hasn’t been able to meet the requirement.
Also, the services are examining technologies used by NATO countries, including entire padded liners, methods used by high impact sports and even advanced concepts like aqueous liners (a CamelBak on your head?)…I’m partial to the Russian Special Forces helmet myself and I wonder if some of our blacker SOF units are using a similar version (I remember seeing pictures of SF operators wearing modified flight helmets during the overland push into northern Iraq in 2003)…
Take a look at the entire report for some good background on how these padding systems came about and make sure to read page five, which discusses new techs being looked at.
GAO Helmet Pad Report
– Christian
just in case but russian special forces have no own helmet. so do russian antiterorism units use titan/ceramic-syntetic-composite helmets wich btw were developed for Afghanistan war from sky diver helmet
. Special millitary forces(in the western mean) use mostly ordinary infantry helmets. Aside that russians call everything “special significance” what does special things. even if it is to secure the general’s fat wife by some close combat trained infantrymen on the shoping tour.
another thing is that russian “sea infantry” (marine) at whole is counted in Russia as a “special significance”. So do many fast reaction teams of the border army (it is a own independent caomponent of russian defense) and “deep research and destroy teams” of the airborne and infantry. not to forget about rescue teams of the airforce and navy.
Ever wonder how many English speakers hang out on Farsi, Arabic, or whatever-language boards making unintelligible comments?
Me neither.
I don’t care how the helmets are lined, as long as they’re poofy. Helmets gotta be poofy.
Posted by: flying fart proudly joyned at July 28, 2009 03:14 PM
So what your saying is the russians are…um special.
hehehe.
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Anyways think a new helmet system has been needed for a while now hell a whole new armor system for infantry is needed. And isnt it about time to make some kind of face protection?
You Ruskies always make the best comments. Care to expand on your post a little?
the striking thing about all the US army development is that they all ways find some imposible goals to make certain nothing changes ‚you know modern helmets don’t last even 5 years(material degradation specified by manufacturer),So you have chance to have every new batch updated even if its just 10–20% ‚but no some guy sets a standard that even the best can’t reach so until they do the keep buying the inferior stuff.Same with guns US army wants any new gun 100% or even 110% more effective than M16/M4 so anything that is just 50–70% better is not good so continue buying M4 ‚that is what politics and lobbyist get you expensive and inferior gear
About Russian helmets,some of them look realy huge ‚but that is for a reason that much off Russia get harsh winters and these helmets are worn over the thick garmentso have to be a bit bigger ‚the other thing is that as they cant afford much the gear is made more robust and primitive ‚some helmets are titanium instead of kevlar so they last couple of times longer.
And about special forces you have to know that airborne troops are regarded as special forces in most armys,and russians have a lot of those and many of their so called special forces are more commando type than SAS and comando forces are allways much bigger in size.Some of these even have tanks.And russia is even more complicated in terms of Airforces , they have airforce for every branch army,navy,airforce and then some i think its like 5–6 airforces.
Years ago I saw a helmet/shoulder pad combo being offered to the NFL (after a couple of infamous hits caused death/paralysis) and thought it would be a better alternative. The helmet/pads are one piece of hard material, with the helm not actually touching the head. The wearer wears padding on his head like an old time leather football helmet. It’s easier on the neck, there are some drawbacks to visibility but those could be easily overcome.
very interesting stuff, I never really thought there was that much research and technology put into creating superior helmets, or trying to create superior helmets. The more they protect the troops the better.
I’ve worn the PASGT regular, and it was absolutely horrible.
About Russian helmets,some of them look realy huge ‚but that is for a reason that much off Russia get harsh winters and these helmets are worn over the thick garmentso have to be a bit bigger—
pss… they dont make much sizes.. it saves big bunch of money.
Hello There.……
Well lets see, because I don’t know where to begin? Should I begin with I have redesigned the entire helmet shell, lightened the makeup of it and use a “fluidic/dynamic truama reduction” insert I created, because of the instant the IED’s started up, the TBI *Traumatic Brain Injury situation skyrocketed. The fluidic system is “double duty system.” Not only does it protect, but it cools the head as well.
I’m a little surprised at Christian not mentioning me on this one? Maybe I didn’t show it to him years ago???? I think I did.
Best, Dave
@Shamus
i always get a feelig you are arrogant, gay and living in whatever stani…