Future Assault Shell Technology helmet

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Future Assault Shell Technology helmet
District governor visits a local school 130415-M-BO337-031.jpg
U.S. Marine Raider wearing a FAST Maritime helmet.
TypeCombat helmet
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2009–present
Used bySee Users
WarsWar on Terror
Production history
DesignerU.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
ManufacturerOps-Core (a part of Gentex)
Produced2007 – present
Variantsballistic:
  • FAST Sentry
  • FAST XP
  • FAST Maritime (MT)
  • FAST SF
  • FAST SF Super High Cut

non-ballistic:

  • FAST Bump (Base Jump)
  • FAST Carbon
  • FAST SF Carbon Composite
Specifications
Weight315–1034 g (0.69–2.28 lbs), depending on size and model

The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, is a combat helmet used by special operations forces and law enforcement organizations.

The FAST helmet series is characteristic for its shell shape – ear cut geometry which extends critical coverage over the rear occipital bone without load carrier interference, and optimizes weight distribution for increased stability, integration, balance, and improved comfort. Along with the cut, the helmet is distinctive by one of its primary design features including the various suspension and retention systems, and the ARC rails similar to picatinny rails enable users to mount different items like helmet lights and cameras.

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 (a.k.a. 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]

In 2019, U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Gentex a contract worth $95 million to supply Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut Helmets.[6]

Development[]

Compared to standard combat helmets, the FAST helmet offers up to 25% 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 wearing communications headsets which can be attached with rail adapters.[7]

Design[]

The FAST helmet ranges in weight from about 315 to 1034 g (0.69 to 2.28 lbs). The type of UHMWPE material for the ballistic FAST models provides increased protection against handgun rounds. It can be fitted with a mounting bracket, patented first in 2014,[8] for accessories like night vision goggles and comm headsets,[9] similar to PASGT and MICH.[10]

Users can wear it with different communications headsets with ease and comfort. It has different color options, such as foliage green, black, olive green, tan, MultiCam and desert MARPAT.[11] As well as having mesh and cloth helmet covers in varying camouflage patterns.

Users[]

  •  Afghanistan: Used by the Afghan National Army Commando Corps.[12]
  •  Algeria: Used by the Algerian special forces units and by the parachute commando regiments.[13]
  •  Australia: Used by special forces units since 2010 and the Australian Defence Force since 2015. Also worn by Police Tactical Groups of each state.
  •  Austria: 20,000 Sentry XP Mid Cut-type helmets ordered in 2016, adopted by the Austrian Armed Forces in 2017.[14]
  •  Brunei: Used by special forces unit since 2019. [15]
  •  France: Used by French special operations forces.[16] Reported used 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.[16]
  •  Finland[citation needed]
  •  Indonesia: Used by Indonesian Navy frogmen (Kopaska)
  •  Israel: Used by Israeli special forces units
  •  Lebanon: Worn by Lebanese Armed Forces[citation needed]
  •  Malaysia: In 2016, a contract was signed with Usahawan PSE Sdn Bhd to supply FAST helmets to the Malaysian military under RM45.9 million.[17] The first Malaysian unit issued with the helmet is the 7th Royal Ranger Regiment.[18]
  •  New Zealand: Used by New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) and sometimes by the Armed Offenders Squad of the New Zealand Police.[19]
  •  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.[20] This replaces the PASGT made by Cato Ringstad.[21]
  •  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.[22]
  •  Poland: FAST Ballistic High Cut helmets used by JW GROM and JW Formoza operators.[23]
  •  South Korea: Used by ROKASWC and ROKNSWF.[citation needed]
  •  Sweden: FAST Maritime Helmets used by Särskilda operationsgruppen.[23]
  •  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.[24]
  •  Ukraine: Used by Ukrainian Spetsnaz Forces.[25]
  •  United Arab Emirates: The UAE Presidential Guard is equipped with the FAST Ballistic High Cut helmet, announced in 2013.[26]
  •  United Kingdom: Used by the Pathfinder Group and the United Kingdom Special Forces.
  •  United States: Used by special operations forces. Delta Force has used the FAST XP helmet (MultiCam shell) officially since 2015, though SF (also in MultiCam) is in use as well. Some DEVGRU operators had used the FAST XP (with AOR1 paintjob) until the FAST Maritime (AOR1 shell) started being officially issued in 2011. Navy SEALs use the LBH (an XP, but with a different velcro shape pattern) with AOR1 shell and SWCC with AOR2 shell. AFSOC, Special Forces (Green Berets), 75th Ranger Regiment and Marine Raider Regiment use the FAST Maritime[1][27] as well as the FAST SF Super High Cut.[6]
    • 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.[28]
    • Small number of FAST SF helmets purchased by the FBI.[29]
  • Vietnam Vietnam: In December 2020, it was reported that Z176 Factory has been producing copies of the High Cut helmets for police and Special Forces use.[30]

Gallery[]

  • A U.S. Marine with a Marine special operations team assists with security during the construction of an Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoint in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30, 2013 130330-M-BO337-085.jpg
  • Finnish Naval Special Forces, Trident Juncture 15 (22641111371).jpg
  • Gen. Ray Odierno observes a live fire exercise.jpg
  • Eager Lion '15 concludes with monumental military demonstration 150518-A-XL223-006.jpg
  • 10th CWS releasing weather balloon at Eglin.JPG
  • LAPD SWAT Exercise 3.jpg
  • Special Operations Air Insertion, RIMPAC 2014 140710-N-PX130-101.jpg
  • 03.30 「臺北市106年全民防衛暨2017臺北世界大學運動會災害防救及金華演習」憲兵特勤隊 33734411565 89cf298803 o.jpg
  • CGA-STU 3.jpg
  • NAVSOG at the SEACAT 2018 Exercise 002.jpg
  • 104rmo training5.png

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "ARL-led program enables new manufacturing processes for ballistic protection". EurekaAlert!. May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. ^ Jump up to: a b https://sofrep.com/gear/us-special-operations-command-reveals-new-helmet-for-operators/
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ https://patents.google.com/patent/USD766521
  9. ^ https://www.equipnor.com/media/1550/2015_ops-core_catalog.pdf
  10. ^ "Canipe Correspondence - Helmets: State of the Art Then and Now - Soldier Systems Daily". soldiersystems.net. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  11. ^ http://www.nowar.de/katalog/komplett/002_pers_schutzausr_takt_einsatzbekl/213_helme/opscore_fast_ball/opscore_fast_ball_uk.htm
  12. ^ https://sofrep.com/news/graphic-video-reportedly-shows-taliban-executing-afghan-special-forces/
  13. ^ "104ème Régiment de Manœuvres Opérationnelles - Page 54 - ForcesDZ". www.forcesdz.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.[better source needed]
  14. ^ http://sipol.at/en/2017/03/30/new-gear/
  15. ^ https://www.joint-forces.com/world-news/22925-rejimen-pasukan-khas-2019-awc-champions[failed verification]
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b 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
  17. ^ "Contracts Worth US$ 745 Million Announced At DSA 2016". www.defenseworld.net.
  18. ^ "New Ballistic Helmets for the Army - Malaysian Defence".
  19. ^ https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/109226138/woman-bites-aos-police-officer-during-firearms-callout
  20. ^ "Ops-Core Helmets for the whole Norwegian Army". Military Times. September 7, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  21. ^ http://soldiersystems.net/2011/09/08/ops-core-wins-norwegian-helmet-contract/
  22. ^ "An Overview of Philippine Elite & Special Forces". Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute. 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2021-02-20.[better source needed]
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b https://web.archive.org/web/20190927152509/http://www.special-ops.pl/artykul/id319,shot-show-2013?p=5
  24. ^ "Ops-Core Helmet Saves Turkish Soldier's Life - Soldier Systems Daily".
  25. ^ https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/11305/ukrainian-spetnazs-weapons-and-gear-may-show-an-american-touch
  26. ^ "Ops-Core Awarded Contract to Supply UAE with the Ops-Core FAST Ballistic High Cut (XP) Helmet". Gentex. 12 November 2013.
  27. ^ "Combat Helmets Have Moved Beyond Just Protection". Task & Purpose. 12 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Ops-Core Helmet Saves LAPD SWAT Officer's Life - Soldier Systems Daily".
  29. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20190416191647/https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=530709eb3f91576ec54d9e928ca6226e&tab=core&_cview=1
  30. ^ "Đặc nhiệm Việt Nam bắt kịp xu thế mũ chống đạn hàng đầu thế giới". Kienthuc.net.vn. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2021-03-17.

External links[]

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