Tongdao Think Tank 2024-02-17 09:01 Beijing.
According to the U.S. News Network on February 14, the United States has officially equipped the soldiers of the melee formation with the latest combat helmets, that is, the next generation of integrated head protection systems.
According to the military**, the NG-IHPS will provide soldiers with "enhanced ballistic and fragmentation protection" and weigh up to 40% less than earlier integrated head protection systems, according to the military**. The system was first deployed in 2018 to replace the Advanced Combat Helmet and the Enhanced Combat Helmet.
The first NG-IHPS units were deployed on Monday and were assigned to about 2,000 soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team.
Compared to previous combat helmets, the previous generation IHPS weighed only 3 pounds and provided additional protection against hand *** and fragments, but it required an additional 2-pound ballistic decal to provide full protection against small** firepower. Allegedly, NG-IHPS will provide a higher level of protection without adding weight.
Maj. Matthew Nurk, assistant project manager of the Soldiers' Head Protection Unit in the Office of the Programme's Executive Officer, said, "This is the world's leading rifle threat protection we provide to our soldiers. ”
Alexde Groot, lead engineer on the head protection team, said the enhanced protection of NG-IHPS is attributed to the use of lightweight polyethylene in the helmet construction rather than the rigid and non-flexible Kevlar material, which disperses energy on impact without shattering.
The U.S. Army has been showing off the next generation of polyethylene helmets since 2018, when researchers showed a prototype that they claimed could be used in 3Rifle protection is provided in a lightweight 25-pound package.
The complete NG-IHPS setup includes a novel fixing and suspension system, helmet cover, and night vision mount. This night vision mount is designed to be integrated with a separate jaw protector (mainly equipped for soldiers in the installed formation), as well as hearing protection.
The installation of the bolt-free system and the night vision device bracket does not affect the structural integrity of the helmet, thus enhancing protection," said DeGroot.
The helmet's night vision mount is also designed to integrate seamlessly with future head-up displays, such as the enhanced binocular night vision goggles and integrated vision enhancement systems that the Army plans to deploy widely in the coming years, the unit said.
"This deployment marks a significant step forward for Soldier Protective Equipment, as it provides soldiers with protection against relevant battlefield threats, and the innovative helmet design is a purpose-built platform that can be used to integrate current and future soldier-enabled devices," said Elgot, Product Manager for Soldier Protective Equipment. ”
However, it remains to be seen how the NG-IHPS will perform in battle. According to the Pentagon's chief tester assessment of the system for fiscal year 2023, "additional testing" is needed to "assess the protection capabilities of NG-IHPS compared to conventional helmets and assess the degree of potential injury to fighters from the penetration threat of the helmet."
The US Army plans to equip the 2nd and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division with NG-IHPS this quarter and deploy the helmet in melee formations "over the next three years."
February** Dynamic Incentive Program