Last week we told you about MSA Gallet’s new Accessory Rail Combat Helmet or ARCH.
The official designations of this new line of helmets are the Gallet TC 800 series and Gallet TC 500 series (MSA decided to revert to the previous Gallet name for them, in order to avoid confusing their clients with nomenclatures of helmets made in the now defunct US helmet factory).
The rails feature proprietary 360° rotating buckles on the front and lower back (three slots on each rail). Additionally, the removable “V” shaped, ratchet-style shroud clamps under the front brim of the shell, and bolts unto each of the upper portions of the side rails in the back. On top of the actual NVG interface (USGI/wilcox compatible), between the two “V” branches, they’ve added bungee ties that go all the way to the top, in order to secure strobes and other non-railed accessories.
It might seem odd to American readers that they would use a ratchet-style shroud but there are a lot of units, especially in Europe, that still use the Lucie NVG with its claw/strap system. Additionally, this solution means no pre-drilled holes in the helmet.
The other interesting thing about those helmets is that they come in only one shell size, with sizing adjustments made via removable pads. However, MSA will offer two harness sizes, as they have introduced a captive strap design similar to the one introduced by Ops-Core.
Specifically, the helmet models are 800/801/802 (first digit is shell thickness in millimeters, last is cut style), the fourth model released is the 501 (same naming convention applies). The 501 is the thinnest MSA available that still retains a frag rating. The line of ARCH is offered in NATO green, Black, Tan.
