The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology ( FAST ) Helmet, besides known as the FAST helmet, is a fight helmet used by extra operations forces and law enforcement organizations. The FAST helmet series is characteristic for its carapace form – ear cut geometry which extends critical coverage over the rear occipital bone without load carrier wave noise, and optimizes weight distribution for increase constancy, integration, balance, and improved comfort. Along with the cut, the helmet is distinctive by one of its primary design features including the assorted suspension and memory systems, and the ARC rails like to picatinny rails enable users to mount different items like helmet lights and cameras .
history [edit ]
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 growth of other helmets such as the Maritime helmet and the Enhanced Combat Helmet ( ECH ). [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
The name FAST helmet was coined by a fabricate ship’s 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. limited 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 [edit ]
Compared to standard combat helmets, the FAST helmet offers up to 25 % weight reduction and is noteworthy for its early on use of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers ( UHMWPE ) in its design. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] It was besides designed to allow outside features such as wearing communications headsets which can be attached with vilify adapters. [ 7 ]
Read more: Maritime search and rescue – Documentary
design [edit ]
The FAST helmet ranges in weight from about 315 to 1034 deoxyguanosine monophosphate ( 0.69 to 2.28 pound ). The character of UHMWPE material for the ballistic FAST models provides increase security against pistol rounds. It can be fitted with a mounting bracket, patented foremost in 2014, [ 8 ] for accessories like night sight goggles and comm headsets, [ 9 ] similar to PASGT and MICH. [ 10 ] Users can wear it with unlike communications headsets with ease and comfort. It has different color options, such as leaf park, black, olive green, texas ranger greens, tangent 499, urban grey, MultiCam and abandon MARPAT. [ 11 ] a well as having mesh and fabric helmet covers in varying disguise patterns.
Read more: Australia Maritime Strategy
The FAST RF1 High Cut Helmet System is a rifle rated ballistic helmet at an average of 3.5 lbs ( 1592 grams ) able to protect against rifle rounds like the 7.62×39mm due to the 0.400 ” ( 10.16mm ) shell thickness. The different semblance options are black, tan 499, ranger green, urban gray and MultiCam .
