Indian armor manufacturer MKU Ltd made their US trade show debut at modern Day Marine. They featured their brand new gunfighter cut helmet built to the new NIJ helmet standard from their Kavro Soldier Protection line.
Archive for the ‘Helmets’ Category
MDM 25 – MKU Ltd
Wednesday, April 30th, 2025Did AFSOC Field A New Helmet? Well, Sort Of….
Saturday, April 12th, 2025A buddy recently sent me this photo and asked me about this new helmet being worn by AFSOC, inquiring what it was.
I hadn’t seen it before and was intrigued. I put out some feelers and then I tracked the photo down to the Air Force Special Operations Command website, showcasing the Special Operations Forces Medical Skills Development program last October at Hurlburt Field, Florida. There was a whole photo story with these helmets peppered throughout.
It didn’t look like any helmet I had ever seen. Here I am thinking it might be some Air Force Research Lab project, but the truth, it would turn out, reminds me of that old Eddie Murphy comedy sketch, “We’ve got McDonald’s at home.*”
After further investigation, I found that this airsoft helmet (yes, I said airsoft) costs around $150 and goes by several names online, but seems to be manufactured by Avengers Airsoft. Avengers calls it the “Ark” Helmet w/ Integrated Cooling System & Headset. Granted, once you look at more of the photos you realize that they are training with paintball guns and that’s likely why they were purchased. They sort of look like issue helmets and are meant for airsoft. Even the website claims that the helmet is “Designed for Foam Blaster, Nerf, Gel Blaster, Battle Blaster, and low power Airsoft Gaming. ANSI rated full face mask recommended for close quarter / high power Airsoft Gaming.”
However, not only is this helmet not safety certified or approved for use as a ballistic, or even bump helmet, it’s also not Berry compliant. Sure, you can hide behind the micro-purchase exemption for Berry but I’d only use that defense if it were some uber cool European ballistic helmet like the NFM Hjelm, not some ABS bucket. What’s more, they aren’t using the face mask, despite using paintball guns, which kind of defeats the purpose of buying these helmets.
I’m not going to cast aspersions on the person who actually bought these things. I am sure they were well intended and bought what they were told to buy. They look sort of like an approved high cut helmet, but not much. Manufacturers Galvion, Gentex, and Team Wendy all make both ballistic and bump helmet models which are approved for wear and have been procured by the Air Force, and they can be used for sim training and have the appropriate mandibles.
Hopefully, AFSOC will procure some proper helmets for these Airmen soon which are actually certified for sim training. These toys should be crushed and put in the dumpster.
As for the rest of you, this is a cautionary tale. If you’re tasking a GPC holder to buy something for you, be very specific about what you want, even down to manufacturer and model preferences. Include specifications in order to further avoid confusion. If you don’t know, I suggest you have your GPC holder, or supply, get ahold of one of the Special Operations TLS vendors like Darley or Noble. There are several contract holders and they have in-house experts who can go over options. You can also do some research each here on SSD.
AFSOC Photos by Airman 1st Class Raul Mercado.
*Language warning, it’s Eddie after all…
Qilo Tactical’s x Perroz Designs – Safari Collection Season VI
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025Built for the kind of safari where the animals shoot back.
Safari Collection season VI – “The African Dictator Special” is inspired largely by the sartorial choices of Mobutu Sese Seko who was a Congolese politician and military officer who renamed Congo to Zaire and ruled it for 26 years from 1971 to 1997.
He was well known for donning his iconic leopard print hat.
Drops this Friday, 3PM EDT. All items are made in Canada by Perroz Designs and distributed by Qilo Tactical.
Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland ais Declared Fully Operational
Tuesday, April 1st, 2025Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, has announced that their European Production Hub in Poland is now fully operational. The facility represents a major investment that has significantly strengthened Galvion’s regional support and service strategy. With both production and support capabilities fully operational, Galvion is now able to serve their widespread European and NATO customers from a geographically aligned centre of excellence.
First announced in September 2023 and driven by Galvion’s ongoing successes in NATO and the wider European regions, the new facility is based in Gdansk. Production has been running for close to a month, with Galvion’s flagship Caiman® helmets as the inaugural systems coming off the production line in preparation for shipment to a key customer in Northern Europe. With this major milestone, the facility is officially declared as operational. Galvion plans to follow this announcement with a formal VIP opening ceremony in June.
Following recent consecutive program awards from key European nations, including a NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract, Galvion is expecting to have close to 2 million helmets in service across NATO and other European countries by the end of 2026. Galvion’s new Gdansk facility houses helmet finishing and assembly capabilities, in addition to critical support, maintenance, refurbishment, upgrade and training operations. The Gdansk location was chosen following a comprehensive search and assessment period, and the functionality of the facility is expected to expand through 2026 and beyond, supporting Galvion’s full product and solutions portfolio. Galvion’s existing core facilities in Canada and the USA will continue to design, develop, manufacture and service domestic, regional, and key global programs, customers, production and support requirements.
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “We are committed to responsible regional operations in order to serve our global customer base in the most efficient way possible. Having the ability to both produce and support helmet systems in Europe is a big step for us and for our NATO customers, as we continue to receive orders through the NSPA framework contract and beyond.” Stirtzinger added: “Our investment project here has been built from the ground up, requiring support, coordination and collaboration across Galvion, not to mention a network of local and national partners in Poland. It is really gratifying for our entire team to see the first Caiman helmets coming off the production line. Special thanks go to our Polish team for their relentless dedication as well as to everyone else who has helped make this such a success.”
Galvion x 4D Tactical Viper Helmet/MSS Direct Drop In Upgrade
Monday, March 31st, 2025Using the Batlchk Program as a catalyst, Galvion & 4D Tactical have collaborated to develop an exclusive drop-in padding solution.
This easy-to-install kit leverages the popular comfort pads that 4DT is well known for and integrates them into best-in-class Galvion helmet systems equipped with the MSS liner. With hundreds of thousands of MSS liners fielded around the world, this product provides an easy, tool-less retrofit while maintaining the same sizing as your original liner.
The kits are Made in the USA and feature heat and moisture wicking fabric with Anti-Microbial properties. Additionally, the memory foam material conforms to the shape of the wearer’s head.
Only offered in Black, this one-size kit includes:
– Front Brow Pad
– Left Side Pad (J-Shaped)
– Right Side Pad (J-Shaped)
– Nape Pad
shop.galvion.com/products/mss-upgrade-comfort-pad-kit
Flimmuur Tactical – DJI Goggles 2 Mount for Wilcox G24
Wednesday, March 26th, 2025The DJI Goggles 2 Mount for Wilcox G24 is the first of several new drone kit coming from Flimmuur Tactical. Designed in association with subject matter experts, based on the latest operational experience.
Professionally SLS printed out of robust Nylon and competitively priced with a 10% Preorder discount (valid until 04/04/2025; automatically applied on checkout)
ETA: shipping out ~04/04/2025
ftactical.net/collections/drone-operator-kit/products/dji-goggles-2-mount-for-wilcox-g24
AV2.2 Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet (NGFWH) Testing Update
Monday, March 24th, 2025LIFT Airborne Technologies, in collaboration with the Human Systems Program Office (AFLCMC/ROU), has successfully conducted over fifty-three (53) Performance Specification (P-Spec) environmental test events, windblast test events, and ejection sled test events on the AV2.2 NGFWH under the current Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract.
The AV2.2 NGFWH Slick Variant and the AV2.2 NGFWH equipped with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Modification Adapter Kit have undergone windblast testing at two seat angles: 17 degrees (representing aircraft such as the F-15, A-10, and F-22) and 32 degrees (representing the F-16). Testing at various speeds included 325 Knots Equivalent Airspeed (KEAS), 450 KEAS, and 600 KEAS for the AV2.2 NGFWH Slick Variant, while the AV2.2 NGFWH with JHMCS Modification Adapter Kit was tested at 450 KEAS.
The successful performance enabled progression to ejection sled testing.
Subsequently, The AV2.2 NGFWH Slick Variant has successfully completed ejection sled testing at 450 KEAS and 600 KEAS, conducted at both 17-degree and 32-degree seat angles. Additionally, the AV2.2 NGFWH equipped with the JHMCS Modification Adapter Kit underwent testing at 450 KEAS at both seat angles. The results from these tests were satisfactory, with both configurations meeting the P-Spec requirements.
The AV2.2 NGFWH is currently operational in various aircraft worldwide, including the latest addition to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) fleet, the OA-1K Sky Warden. Aircrew operating the OA-1K Sky Warden are enthusiastic about the advanced capabilities of the AV2.2 NGFWH helmet system.
Having met all the requirements outlined in the P-Spec, the AV2.2 NGFWH Slick Variant now enables LIFT Airborne Technologies and the Human Systems Program Office to collaborate on advancing the program to the Milestone C Acquisition Phase and working towards a production contract.
For Department of Defense users seeking testing data regarding the AV2.2 NGFWH, please contact Samantha McKee, NGFWH Contracting Officer at AFLCMC/ROU, at samantha.mckee.1@us.af.mil.
For international users seeking testing data, please contact your respective government officials to request the testing data from the United States Air Force.
For any further inquiries regarding the AV2.2 NGFWH, please reach out to Chris Kitts, Director of Military Programs at LIFT Airborne Technologies, at chris.k@liftairborne.com or Todd Lentz, Chief Revenue Officer at LIFT Airborne Technologies, at todd.l@liftairborne.com.
See the Gentex Next Generation Fighter Helmet at the Avalon Airshow
Monday, March 17th, 2025
