Honeywell delivers combat helmet materials
Honeywell has announced that it has completed the delivery of advanced ballistic materials that will be used in the development of next-generation combat helmets for the US Army. The company made the announcement 15 May, 2012.
Honeywell said it has delivered 218 helmets containing advanced Spectra Shield and Gold Shield ballistic materials that the army will evaluate to help set new helmet performance requirements. The helmets are designed to be 16 to 24 percent lighter than the helmets US soldiers currently wear, and provide increased ballistic and non-ballistic performance against handgun rounds and fragments from improvised explosive devices.
Spectra Shield is manufactured using Honeywell's proprietary shield technology, which bonds parallel strands of Spectra fibre with an advanced resin system. Spectra fibre is made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. The fibre exhibits ‘high resistance to chemicals, water and ultraviolet light, and has excellent vibration damping, flex fatigue and internal fibre-friction characteristics’, and has ‘as much as 60 percent greater specific strength than aramid fibre.’
The delivery was made as part of a contract signed with the army in April 2011. The equipment will now be evaluated by the US Army's Programme Executive Office (PEO) Soldier as part of a wider effort to reduce the weight of soldier body armour and increase head protection for greater soldier comfort, mobility and safety in the field.
More from Land Warfare
-
![US Navy expects to complete delivery of VAMPIRE CUAS to Ukraine this month]()
US Navy expects to complete delivery of VAMPIRE CUAS to Ukraine this month
As the Ukraine continues to battle against Russia’s use of UAS in a range of sizes, the VAMPIRE CUAS will be used against higher-tier UAVs with the inclusion of a fuzed warhead.
-
![Australia signs US$2.6 billion deal for 129 Redback IFVs from Hanwha Defense Australia]()
Australia signs US$2.6 billion deal for 129 Redback IFVs from Hanwha Defense Australia
The Redback IFVs for the Australian Defence Force will be made in a facility currently under construction in Geelong, Victoria.
-
![Babcock looks to test swarm technology in military environment]()
Babcock looks to test swarm technology in military environment
SwarmCore, a technology designed to control swarming or individual uncrewed systems, offers protection in an environment where cyber threats can be present.
-
![New French-Belgian 4x4 reconnaissance vehicle to enter service in 2030]()
New French-Belgian 4x4 reconnaissance vehicle to enter service in 2030
The Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement (VBAE) will replace older French vehicles and provide a new capability for Belgium.
-
![How soldier centred-design requirements will reshape future US Army’s capabilities]()
How soldier centred-design requirements will reshape future US Army’s capabilities
The service has plans in place to involve soldiers in the early stages of acquisition and development programmes in addition to conducting more soldier touchpoint events.
-
![Rohde & Schwarz begins delivering combat net radios to German army]()
Rohde & Schwarz begins delivering combat net radios to German army
Rohde & Schwarz combat net radios (CNRs) include various interoperable form factors, such as vehicle and handheld radios, fixed stations, backpack radios, and a tactical radio for airborne platforms.
