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Archive for the ‘Helmets’ Category
ATACS-FG Predator Ghillie Helmet Cover
Monday, August 1st, 2022US Air Force Selects LIFT Airborne Technologies to Develop New Aircrew Helmet
Friday, July 8th, 2022
Photo: Staff Sgt. Dana Tourtellotte
For Immediate Release | Los Angeles, California, USA – July 8th, 2022
The United States Air Force, through its Program Management Office, formally announced that LIFT Airborne Technologies through its LIFT Aviation division is the Final Winner of the multi-year Next Generation Fixed Wing-Helmet (NGFWH) Competition to continue with prototype development of a new helmet for Air Force fixed-wing aircrew.
It’s with great pride that our Company has worked tirelessly on the Design, Development, Engineering and Testing throughout this project resulting in victory over all other competitors in this competition. LIFT Airborne Technologies is now the sole Contractor moving forward in the NGFWH project.
This project started in 2018 through the USAF AFWERX program (www.afwerx.com), which was implemented to increase competition, reduce time to delivery, encourage innovation, attract new technologies, and entice non-traditional / small business companies to work with the government through a streamlined process which mitigates barriers to entry for defense contracting. The AFWERX Helmet Challenge began with over 100 competitors from around the world that included the Who’s Who in the global Fixed Wing Flight Helmet market and other subject matter experts. In the end, LIFT Airborne’s Product Development Team demonstrated that our helmet was the most advanced, effective, and efficient solution to provide value for the airborne warfighter.
Jason Barnes, VP of Product Design for LIFT Airborne, commented: “We’re now moving forward with final development on the helmet along a pre-determined path, hand-in-hand with the USAF and their Engineering Team as well as their Contracting Team. We are now honored and humbled to finally be partnered with the USAF to refine the ultimate product after several years of competition.”
Over the course of development of the LIFT AV2.2 NGFWH we’ve already connected with many potential customers for this amazing helmet and we’re excited to further that engagement with any new partners, that like the USAF, are compelled to field the most advanced Fixed Wing Flight Helmet ever developed for their warfighters and commercial sectors. Our Business Development Team is ready to meet your specific needs and provide the world class responsiveness and quality that Lift is known for.
Guido Rietdyk, President and CEO of LIFT Airborne stated: “Our Company wouldn’t have had this much success if it wasn’t for the incredible work delivered day in, day out by our Engineering Staff, the USAF agencies and our numerous Technology Partners that made the vision of the NGFWH a reality both for us and our USAF Customer. We hereby want to thank both our Engineering Staff and our Technology Partners for their never-ending energy and drive to make it to this finish line today.” A big word of thanks also for the entire team at the USAF Program Management Office for their years of dedicated work with us and our competition in arriving at this major decision. Working with the PMO team was a great experience and the good outcome is in many ways due to their expertise and advanced process which culminated in the ultimate helmet solution…our LIFT AV2.2 Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet!
Air Force Selects Future Fixed Wing Aircrew Helmet
Monday, June 27th, 2022JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) —
The Air Force selected LIFT Airborne Technologies to continue with prototype development of a new helmet for Air Force fixed-wing aircrew.
The helmet prototype was chosen after Air Combat Command initiated the search for a next-generation helmet to address issues with long-term neck and back injuries, optimize aircraft technology, improve pilot longevity, and provide better fitment to diverse aircrews.
“The current helmet was based on 1980’s design. Since then, gains in aircraft technology and the demographic of pilots have changed,” said Scott Cota, ACC Plans and Requirements branch aircrew flight equipment program analyst. “The legacy helmet was not originally designed to support advances in aircraft helmet-mounted display systems, causing pilots to fly with equipment not optimized for them, especially our female aircrew.”
The implementation of helmet-mounted devices has added weight and changed the center of gravity, leading to discomfort for operators. In addition, a 2020 Air Force anthropometric study identified the need to add a size small helmet that better optimizes the fit for affected female aviators, Cota said.
The helmet requirement was one of the first initiatives to go through AFWERX, an Air Force organization focused on working with nontraditional defense companies to bring technological innovation, in 2019.
“To better understand advances in technology, seek innovative solutions to current helmet issues, and use vendor competition to drive the initiative, AFWERX was a natural choice,” Cota said.
As the lead, Cota worked with other major commands and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Human Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to set the requirements of the new helmet for operators across the Air Force.
Key parameters identified were weight, pilot comfort, optimized fitment and protection, stability, optimized center of gravity, and integration with different helmet-mounted systems.
“Using a streamlined acquisition process to move the program, the AFLCMC took the AFWERX initiative and solicited over 100 different designs from industry. Promising designs were evaluated and submitted for further testing,” said Capt. Timothy James, AFLCMC Human Systems Division of Agile Combat Support Directorate program manager. “The innovative process has allowed us to move faster than a standard acquisition while providing checks and balances to ensure a quality product.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory performed a majority of the testing, but the AFLCMC also worked with the Airmen Accommodations Laboratory, the Life Support Systems Scientific, Test, Analysis, and Qualification Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB as well as the 46th Test Squadron and 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, to narrow the finalist to LIFT Airborne Technologies.
“These new helmets will offer greater applicability and better fit for operators of all sizes, genders and ethnicities,” James said.
The helmet will undergo additional research, testing and improvements prior to the Air Force confirming the prototype design is successful and offering a production contract in 2024. Following production, ACC plans to take a phased approach to deliver the new helmet to all fixed-wing aircrew members across the Air Force, beginning with the F-15E Strike Eagle.
By Lemuel Casillas
Air Combat Command Public Affairs
F3 – French Army’s New Helmet
Saturday, June 25th, 2022During the recent Eurosatory expo in Paris, the French Army unveiled their new F3 combat helmet.
This aramid helmet offers a new rail configuration as well as additional Velcro. This upgrade retains compatibility with FELIN accessories but increases the ability to integrate additional capabilities.
The French military is investing in multiple upgrades for the individual Soldier such as the new BME camouflage pattern and F3 uniform cut pursuant to the Military Programming Act (MPA) 2019-2025.
Helmet Pads from Hard Heads: Micro Lattice For Your Lid
Sunday, June 12th, 2022Hard Head Veterans is excited to showcase their Micro Lattice Helmet Pads – an excellent and affordable upgrade for tactical or ballistic helmets. Developed in association with Carbon, using their Digital Light Synthesis manufacturing process, the Micro Lattice assembly is a superb energy-absorbing structure.
This substantially improves the protective capabilities of a helmet by mitigating and even preventing head trauma.
The Micro Lattice Pads average single-digit deformation numbers when tested to 1400 fps with 9mm projectiles on our ATE ballistic helmet. Regardless of whether they are at -60 degrees or 160 degrees they still perform the same.
This cannot be said for standard foam pads.
HHV Micro Lattice Helmet Pads
- Up to a 66% decrease in ballistic transient deformation over standard foam pads
- Up to a 21.70% decrease in blunt impact accelerations over standard foam pads
- Lattice construction allows unrestricted airflow keeping helmets an average of 14 degrees cooler
- Pads do not absorb sweat or water making them quick-drying, positively buoyant, and easily washable.
- The comfort lattice conforms evenly to the user’s head
- Available in 1” and ¾” sizes
Shock Absorption
The Carbon DLS process enables lattice structures that absorb and dissipate energy through the precise tuning of strut thickness and cell size.
This lattice structure facilitates the absorption and dissipation of energy by aligning internal damping struts against the directions of impact. With over 28,000 individual struts, the lattice is built so each strut is specially tuned at every point on the helmet. Increases or decreases in the stiffness of the lattice structure are enabled through precise adjustments to the thickness of each strut, allowing the lattice to absorb and disperse energy from various impacts.
The Micro Lattice Helmet Pads are compatible with the following helmets, among others: ACH, MICH, LWH, ECH, Crye Precision, Ops-Core, MTEK, Revision/Galvion, Gentex, Team Wendy, United Shield, and most others that utilize Velcro attachment.
You can find documentation of the ballistic testing online here; read a more in-depth explanation on the Hard Head Blog.
You can find the Micro Lattice Helmet Pad system on the Hard Head Veterans website.
Rampart Range Day 22 – Rampart Solutions
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022The biggest booth at Range Day was Rampart’s own. They show solutions which don’t have reps on hand.
XION
XION is an impact resistant garment which can be worn under traditional police uniforms offering discreet protection.
Warq
The Warq Pro helmet is designed for use with Simuntions. The integrated visor is Anti-fog and offers 210 deg FOV. For added training value, you’ll find a Wilcox NOD Mount and rails. One size fits most.
Schuberth
The Schuberth P100 has become go-to riot helmet for police in Europe. offered in several versions, these include the P100N LPA which incorporates and adjustable liner and laser eye protection.
Aimpoint
Rampart offers the ACRO P-2. It incorporates a 3.5 MOA dot with 4 night vision compatible settings and 6 daylight settings for over 50,000 hours (over 5 years) of constant operation.
Carinthia
Based in Austria, Carinthia makes great clothing, sleep and shelter systems. They use GORE-TEX and their own proprietary insulation called G-Loft.
All of these products can be procured by agencies, departments, and units in Canada from Rampart International.
SOFIC 22 – Princeton-Tec
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022Subsequent to the Gentex RAILINK announcement, Princeton-Tec has released their RAILINK Switch MPLS light which is designed to interface specifically with the RAILINK node, using parasitic power supplied by the RAILINK battery pack.
Because there are no batteries, it weighs just 13 grams and offers Red/IR LEDs with a simple switching system.
princetontec.com/product/switch-railink
SOFIC 22 – CORE Survival
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022Designed specifically for use with the Gentex RAILINK the HEL-STAR Rail Strobe comes in pairs which are intended to be mounted at Node 2 on the RAILINK. This placement moves the strobe off of the top of the helmet, yet allows for full visibility of the strobe.
The HEL-STAR Rail Strobe offers dim and bright power visible light along with an IR function.
I spoke with Jamey Caldwell of 1MinuteOut and he pointed out several features. This overt/covert rail mounted marker offers weight reduction through the elimination of redundant batteries and increases mobility due to its low profile footprint. Jamey has been using this system for over a year and explained that the slick design makes it easier to maneuver in confined spaces.
