Last fall, the U.S. Army began secretly fielding an improved combat helmet.
Though it’s about half the weight of earlier battle helmets, the second generation Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) offers even better protection than its predecessor.
One of the earliest forms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – used at least since the 23rd century BC by one of the first known civilizations in history, the Sumerians – combats helmets have come a long way. Today’s high-tech helmets are outfitted out with everything from cameras to night-vision devices.
That added technology has often led to heavier PPE; the average U.S. soldier’s gear weighs 60 pounds.
The first generation IHPS weighed three pounds, but soldiers requiring classified-level protection had to add a two-pound applique on top of it. Considering the adult human head only weighs about 11 pounds, that five-pound IHPS was like the weight of an additional half a head bearing down on a soldier’s neck.
That isn’t just heavy — it’s dangerous. Soldiers need to be able to move quickly and easily through a wide variety of terrain and weather conditions.
For Gen II IHPS, U.S. Army scientists at the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center developed a new process for molding the polyethylene material that resulted in decreasing the weight of combat helmets by up to 40%.
The additional appliques are no longer needed with this new process. Also, because the universal helmet mount has eliminated the need for drilling holes for straps, the integrity of the carbon fiber is preserved.
Gen II IHPS helmets consequently have the same ballistic protection as their predecessor while offering better maneuverability and dexterity.
