If you held the Enhanced Combat Helmet in one hand and the Advanced Combat Helmet in the other, you’d hardly know the difference, or why the Marine Corps is looking to replace the ACH with the ECH. You would notice, however, that the ECH is slightly thicker and made from a lighter material, but what about the ballistics?
The new helmet’s shell is made up of a lightweight polyethylene material that is more durable than the current Kevlar, though both the current and new helmet have the same “tactical cut” design that gives Marines greater mobility in combat.
The Marine Corps expected to get a helmet at least 35% stronger when tested against small-arms fire and fragmentation damage. However, when testing the durability and strength of the ECH against fragments fired from test guns, it was proven nearly impenetrable.
The ECH is stronger and integrates well with Marines’ capabilities, and can greatly reduce the risk of traumatic head injuries. In this case, being hard-headed is a welcome quality for Marines.
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