Future Assault Shell Technology helmet

The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, is a combat helmet that is used by special forces units seeking to use an alternative headgear while trading some ballistic protection for comfortable headwear to use.

Future Assault Shell Technology helmet
A U.S. Marine with a Marine special operations team wearing a FAST helmet.
Type	Combat helmet
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	2009 – Present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War on Terror
Production history
Designer	U.S. Army Research Laboratory in collaboration with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier
Designed	2005 – Present
Manufacturer	Ops-Core (apart of Gentex)
Produced	2009 – Present

History

It was developed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in collaboration with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier as part of the Army Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program, which led to the development of other helmets such as the Maritime helmet and the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH).[1][2]

The name FAST helmet was coined by a manufacturing company called Ops-Core in 2005.[3] In 2008, Ops-Core showed off their prototype helmet with their Head-Loc™ Helmet Retention System (AKA Head-Loc Retention System) at the 2008 SHOT SHOW convention. The helmet was publicly revealed in 2009 at the annual SHOT Show.[4] It was issued to U.S. special forces operators deployed in Afghanistan.[5]

Development

Compared to standard combat helmets, the FAST helmet offers a 25 percent weight reduction and is notable for its early use of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPE) in its design.[1][2] It was also designed to allow outside features such as tactical and communications protective system (TCAPS) devices to be attached to the helmet.[6]

Users

•  Austria: 20,000 Sentry XP Mid Cut-type helmets ordered in 2016, adopted by the Austrian Armed Forces in 2017.[7]
•  Belgium : Used by Belgian police and Belgian army.[8]
•  Egypt: Used by Egyptian Central Security Forces Black Cobra and Sa'ka Forces Thunderbolt Forces and Navy Thunderbolt Forces
•  France: Used by French special forces units.[9] Reported by a 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment commando, who credited the helmet with saving him from being shot in the head during the 2015 Bamako hotel attack.[9]
•  Israel: Used by Israeli special forces units
•  Malaysia: In 2016, a contract was signed with Usahawan PSE Sdn Bhd to supply FAST helmets to the Malaysian military under RM45.9 million.[10] The first Malaysian unit issued with the helmet is the 7th Royal Ranger Regiment.[11]
•  Netherlands: Used by the Dienst Speciale Interventies (DSI), Korps Commandotroepen (KCT), Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) and the Brigade Speciale Beveiligingsopdrachten (BSB).
•  New Zealand: Used by New Zealand Special Air Service[12]
•  Norway: In 2011, the Norwegian Defense Logistic Organization (NDLO) selected the FAST helmet as the new standard issue protective headgear for the Norwegian Army and National Guard. The decision was made after positive results from rounds of ballistic and safety testing and has been previously fielded by the Norwegian Special Forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq.[13] This replaces the PASGT made by Cato Ringstad.[14]
•  Philippines: Ops Core helmets and copies are used by numerous units in the AFP and PNP but the most notable users are the Philippine NAVSOG.
•  Poland: Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza operators.[15]
•  South Korea: Used by special forces and as standard issue as part of the Warrior platform program. Also seen in use with the Korean National Police Agency.
• . Sweden: Used by Särskilda operationsgruppen (FAST Maritime helmets),[15] EOD units. Also the standard issue police helmet.
•  Turkey: Used by the Turkish Army, with a reported incident where a Turkish soldier's life was saved when his Ops-Core Sentry-type helmet was shot at in 2015.[16]
•  Ukraine: Used by Ukrainian spetsnaz forces.[17]
•  United Arab Emirates: The UAE Presidential Guard is equipped with the FAST Ballistic High Cut helmet, announced in 2013.[18]
•  United States: Used by US special operations units.[1][19]
  • In use with the LAPD SWAT, where a SWAT officer credited the helmet for saving his life from being shot in the head in 2017.[20]
  • Small number of FAST SF helmets purchased by the FBI.[21]
•  United Kingdom: Used by United Kingdom Special Forces
•  Lebanon: Used by the Lebanese Special Operations Command and the intervention regiments, also seen used by conventional brigades.

Gallery

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References

1. "ARL-led program enables new manufacturing processes for ballistic protection". EurekaAlert!. May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
2. National Research Council (2014). Review of Department of Defense Test Protocols for Combat Helmets. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
3. "THE FAST HELMET | FUTURE ASSAULT SHELL TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED". Hard Head Veterans. June 1, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
4. "Ops-Core Releases New Products - Soldier Systems Daily".
5. Crane+, David. "Ops-Core FAST Ballistic Helmet (Crye MultiCam Camo Pattern?) Military Combat Helmet with FAST-ARC Accessory Rail Connectors and Head-Loc Chinstrap Retention System Going Operational in Afghanistan with U.S. Army Special Forces: FAST Helmet Demo Video, and Contour HD Tactical Helmet Cam (Camera) Photos!". DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
6. Scharine, Angelique; Weatherless, Rachel (September 2013). "Evaluation of Variants of 3M Peltor ComTAC Tactical Communication and Protection System (TCAPS) Headsets: Measures of Hearing Protection and Auditory Performance". U.S. Army Research Laboratory – via ResearchGate.
7. http://sipol.at/en/2017/03/30/new-gear/
8. https://www.reddit.com/r/belgium/comments/50gh4n/belgiums_special_forces/
9. http://www.veterans-jobs-center.com/vjc/les-chroniques-de-vjc/forces-speciales-retex-ou-quand-le-bon-matos-t-evite-d-etre-porte-par-six-.html
10. "Contracts Worth US$ 745 Million Announced At DSA 2016". www.defenseworld.net.
11. "New Ballistic Helmets for the Army - Malaysian Defence".
12. https://www.overtdefense.com/2018/10/05/video-inside-new-zealand-sass-battle-training-facility/%5B%5D
13. "Ops-Core Helmets for the whole Norwegian Army". Military Times. September 7, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
14. http://soldiersystems.net/2011/09/08/ops-core-wins-norwegian-helmet-contract/
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927152509/http://www.special-ops.pl/artykul/id319,shot-show-2013?p=5
16. "Ops-Core Helmet Saves Turkish Soldier's Life - Soldier Systems Daily".
17. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/11305/ukrainian-spetnazs-weapons-and-gear-may-show-an-american-touch
18. "Ops-Core Awarded Contract to Supply UAE with the Ops-Core FAST Ballistic High Cut (XP) Helmet". Gentex. 12 November 2013.
19. "Combat Helmets Have Moved Beyond Just Protection". Task & Purpose. 12 June 2015.
20. "Ops-Core Helmet Saves LAPD SWAT Officer's Life - Soldier Systems Daily".
21. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416191647/https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=530709eb3f91576ec54d9e928ca6226e&tab=core&_cview=1

External links

• FUATURED PRODUCTS FAST Helmet