Soldiers will soon be wearing a helmet that’s up to 24 percent lighter than the current 15-year-old model, according to the Army.
The Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II looks the same as the legacy ACH, but the new helmet is made from polyethylene instead of Kevlar, PEO Soldier experts told reporters during a media roundtable Thursday at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
“The goal is to achieve a lighter-weight helmet with equal to or greater protection [than the legacy ACH],” said Maj. Brandon Motte, assistant project manager at Soldier Protective Equipment.
An extra-large legacy helmet weighs 3.88 pounds, he said, but an extra-large Gen II helmet weighs 2.94 pounds, which equals a 24 percent reduction in weight. The small and medium helmets see a 21 percent reduction in weight.

Courtesy of Army Times

Photo courtesy of US Army