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Enhanced Combat Helmet (United States)

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Enhanced Combat Helmet
Later generation ECH high cut
TypeCombat 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.
Video of the ECH
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]

The US Army is in the process of replacing it with the Integrated Head Protection System.

Design

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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 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

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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

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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.
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