Enhanced Combat Helmet (United States)

Last updated
Enhanced Combat Helmet
ECH high cut 2.png
Later generation ECH high cut
Type Combat helmet
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2012–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
Designed2007
ManufacturerCeradyne [1] and Gentex [2]
ProducedMarch 2012 – present
Specifications
Mass3.3 lb/1.5kg
An early ECH prototype; the production model uses a slightly different chinstrap. PEO Soldier Enhanced Combat Helmet profile.jpg
An early ECH prototype; the production model uses a slightly different chinstrap.
Video of the ECH
U.S. Marine wearing an ECH in 2018 180317-M-RT059-0172 - LCpl Jacob Godwin, USMC.jpg
U.S. Marine wearing an ECH in 2018

The Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) is a combat helmet designed in conjunction of a joint program of the United States Marine Corps and United States Army to replace the current combat helmets in use by the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force. Although similar in shape of the Advanced Combat Helmet and its predecessor the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, the ECH is instead constructed using thermoplastics instead of the ballistic fibers used on previous-generation combat helmets. [3]

Contents

It is planned to be succeeded by the Integrated Head Protection System.

Design

The ECH's profile is very similar to the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) but is thicker; [4] they can be differentiated from the ACH by the different chinstrap. The ECH helmet's shell is made of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material. The helmet provides 35% better protection against small-arms fire and fragmentation than the ACH, and it protects against certain rifle projectiles. The helmet is of the "tactical cut" type and thus offers less coverage but does enable better mobility. The helmet is compatible with camouflage fabric helmet covers. [5] 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. [6] The helmet's design allows for the addition of devices such as communications and night-vision equipment.

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). [5]

A high cut variant of the ECH with side accessory rails and a contour similar to the Ops-Core FAST (Future Assault Shell Technology) helmet already in use by special operations forces was issued to Marine combat arms units beginning in 2021. [7] Unlike in the earlier version of the helmet, the distinctive D-ring attachment at the jawline is not present in this design.

Development

In an effort led by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), [8] ECH development began in 2007 under the Army Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program. In July 2009, more than $8 million was awarded to four vendors for five helmet designs. Mine Safety Appliances was awarded $4.7 million, Gentex Corporation was awarded $1.8 million, BAE Systems Aerospace & Defense Group was awarded $764,000, and 3M subsidiary 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 were to be downselected, and the remaining two would be tested in November. If the program proceeded as planned the Army would acquire 200,000, the Marine Corps would acquire 38,500, and the Navy would acquire 6,700.

Ceradyne won the competition to produce the Enhanced Combat Helmet in March 2012. In July 2013, the U.S. Marine Corps ordered 3,850 helmets for deployed Marines, to be fielded before the end of 2013. [9] The Marine Corps plans to buy 77,000 helmets, enough to outfit a large contingent of deployed U.S. Marines. [10] When they return, they will be turned in. The Lightweight Helmet and Modular Integrated Communications Helmet will still be used for training and noncombat purposes. PEO Soldier also confirmed that the Army will field the helmet. Fielding was scheduled to begin in October 2013. [11] [12] The Marine Corps' ultimate goal is to issue the ECH to all 182,000 Marines. [13]

Prior to enhancements under ManTech, every ballistic helmet in the U.S. military used a thermoset-based combination of aramid fiber with a PVB-phenolic resin. Although there have been improvements in the aramid fibers, the material and processing technology in the ACH had not changed in 30 years. The ManTech program focused on addressing technology barriers that inhibited a new class of improved ballistic materials, including new grades of Dyneema, Spectra, and thermoplastic coated aramids. [14]

The Army helmet fabrication goal was to develop an entirely new methodology for mass-producing complex shapes and combining layers of different thermoplastic materials. During this time, ARL and partners created a new molding technology, which included a manufacturing process reducing labor by 40% and waste by 70%. [15]

The ManTech program has also produced the Ops-Core FAST helmet, fielded by the Green Berets, the Navy SEALS, and other special operations forces. The FAST helmet offers 25% weight reduction; a derivative of the FAST helmet, known as the Maritime (MT), offers a 35% weight reduction. The FAST helmet and its derivatives also use UHMWPE, and the technology includes new manufacturing processes developed at ARL, in collaboration with U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development And Engineering Center and Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier. [15] ARL and its partners received the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program Achievement Award in 2009 for work on ECH. [15]

Users


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Malaysia

The Malaysian Armed Forces, are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 along with the reserve forces at 51,600. The Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong; the King of Malaysia.

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States.

The Interceptor Multi-Threat Body Armor System (IBA) is a bullet-resistant body armor system that was used by the United States Armed Forces during the 2000s, with some limited usage into the mid-2010s. IBA and its design replaced the older standardized fragmentation protective Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) body armor system that was designed in the late 1970s and introduced in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops</span> Military equipment

Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops is a combat helmet and ballistic vest that was used by the United States military from the early 1980s until the mid-2000s, when the helmet and vest were succeeded by the Lightweight Helmet (LWH), Modular Integrated Communications Helmet (MICH), and Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceradyne</span> Manufacturer of advanced ceramic systems

Ceradyne, Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British company, Avon Rubber. Ceradyne, Inc. is a manufacturer of advanced ceramic systems and components and involved in many technical industries including nuclear power, oil and gas, solar energy, automotive, and defense. It is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular Integrated Communications Helmet</span> Type of U.S. combat helmet

The Modular Integrated Communications Helmet (MICH) is a U.S. combat helmet and one of several used by the U.S. military. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Research Laboratory</span> Research facility of the United States Army

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory is the U.S. Army's foundational research laboratory. ARL is headquartered at the Adelphi Laboratory Center (ALC) in Adelphi, Maryland. Its largest single site is at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Other major ARL locations include Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Graces Quarters, Maryland, and NASA's Glenn Research Center, Ohio and Langley Research Center, Virginia. ARL also has regional sites in Playa Vista, California, Chicago, Austin, TX, and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced Combat Helmet</span> Worn by army soldiers

The Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) is the United States Army's current combat helmet, used since the early 2000s. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the American ground forces. The ACH is derived from the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightweight Helmet</span> Armored helmet used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy

The Lightweight Helmet (LWH), also known as the Lightweight Marine Corps Helmet or Lightweight Marine Helmet, is an armored helmet that is used by the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. It is the U.S. Marine Corps' replacement for the PASGT combat helmet and is derived from the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet.

Gentex Corporation is a privately held company that focuses on the manufacture of United States and international military, special forces, commercial, law enforcement, emergency medical services and first responder personal protective equipment products, as well as aluminized fabrics, Lifetex fabrics, Clearweld, Filtron, and Precision Polymer Processors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballistic face mask</span>

A ballistic face mask, also known as facial armor, is a type of personal armor designed to protect the wearer's face from ballistic threats. Ballistic face masks are usually made of Kevlar or other bullet resistant materials and the inside of the mask may be padded for shock absorption, depending on the design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Improved Outer Tactical Vest</span> US Army body armor

The Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) is an enhanced version of, and a replacement for, the older Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) component of the Interceptor Multi-Threat Body Armor System, as fielded by the United States Army beginning in the mid-2000s. The IOTV is compatible with the Deltoid and Axillary Protector System (DAPS) components, ESAPI, Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI), as well as the OTV's groin protector. It has a flame-resistant standalone shirt, the Army Combat Shirt (ACS), designed specifically for use with the IOTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CG634</span>

The CG634 is the Canadian Armed Forces' main combat helmet. It was introduced in 1997 and is based on the French Gallet TC-3 helmet. The helmet has protection equal to an NIJ Level 3a rating, being able to stop a shot from a .357 Magnum.

The Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) was the standard issue combat helmet of the Australian Defence Force, introduced in 2004 to replace the M91 helmet, an Australian version of the American PASGT helmet, it was replaced by the Team Wendy EXFIL Ballistic helmet from 2015

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MKU (company)</span> Indian defense company

MKU is headquartered in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The company is a manufacturer of optronics devices like night vision binoculars and monoculars, personal and platform armour including ballistic helmets, armour inserts, bulletproof vests, Ballistic Shields & Briefcases for military, paramilitary, homeland security, police & Special Forces with a customer base in over 100 countries.

The BK-3 is a Croatian Combat helmet produced by Šestan-Busch, and is the standard combat helmet of the Croatian Armed Forces. It is also widely exported to many NATO and Middle Eastern customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future Assault Shell Technology helmet</span> Combat helmet

The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, is an American combat helmet used by special operations forces and law enforcement organizations in various countries, as well as the current standard protective headgear of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integrated Head Protection System</span> US Army combat helmet

The Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) is the United States Army's newest combat helmet, intended to eventually replace the Advanced Combat Helmet and Enhanced Combat Helmet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/PSQ-42</span> Binocular night vision device

The AN/PSQ-42 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B) is a third-generation passive binocular night vision device developed for the United States Army by L3Harris. It combines dual tube image-intensifying (I²) and thermal-imaging technologies into a single goggle, enabling vision in low-light conditions. The two methods can be used individually or simultaneously in a fused mode. The ENVG-B is intended to be issued to the dismounted combat arms soldiers within the Army's Brigade combat teams (BCT), and so far over 10,000 have been issued to several BCT's within the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division. The US Marine Corps has also purchased 3,100 ENVG-B units.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Government Order Totals 114,000 Enhanced Combat Helmets from 3M". 3M News | United States.
  2. ↑ "GENTEX AWARDED $1.8 MILLION ENHANCED COMBAT HELMET (ECH) CONTRACT BY U.S. MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND (MARCORSYSCOM)". GENTEX Corporation | United States. 22 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Marine Corps Systems Command (2013-07-30). "Enhanced combat helmet heads to production". Marine Corps Systems Command. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  4. ↑ Matthew Cox & Dan Lamothe (1 September 2009). "Army's new plastic helmet tops Kevlar ACH". Army Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Enhanced Combat Helmet" (PDF). July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  6. ↑ Lance M. Bacon (2011-02-26). "Head of the class". Army Times. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  7. ↑ "Supporting the future fight: MCSC modernizing infantry capabilities".
  8. ↑ "Low Cost Manufacturing of Materials for Improved Warfighter Protection". U.S. Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program. Department of Defense. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ceramic Enhanced Combat Helmets And Personal Armor". AZoM.com. October 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ "3M to Supply Enhanced Combat Helmets to United States Marine Corps". 3M News | United States.
  11. ↑ New combat helmets coming for deploying Marines Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine - MarineCorpstimes.com, 29 July 2013
  12. ↑ Army, Marines to Field Better Ballistic Helmets - Military.com, 30 July 2013
  13. ↑ Corps Needs Cash to Field New Helmet to All Marines - Kitup.Military.com, 14 September 2016
  14. ↑ "DMC Achievement Award - DoD ManTech". www.dodmantech.com. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  15. 1 2 3 "New Tech for Better Helmets" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "Supply and Delivery of 3,121 units Enhanced Combat Helmet Level III (Lot 1) under Public Bidding No. PNP-17-39G". pnp.gov.ph.
  17. ↑ "Supply and Delivery of 11,084 units Enhanced Combat Helmet Level III (Lot 2) under Public Bidding No. PNP-17-40G, NHQ BAC". pnp.gov.ph.
  18. ↑ "Marine Corps to Issue Enhanced Combat Helmet to Every Marine". Military.com. June 12, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.