Future Assault Shell Technology helmet
Ops-Core FAST Helmet
TypeCombat helmet
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2009–present
Used bySee Users
WarsGlobal War on Terrorism
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
War on Drugs
Syrian Civil War
Kurdish-Turkish War
Second Libyan Civil War
Russo-Ukrainian War
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)
Unit cost$1,690 (2019)[1]
Produced2007 – present
Variantsballistic:
  • FAST Sentry
  • FAST XP
  • FAST Maritime (MT)
  • FAST SF
  • FAST RF1
  • FAST XR

non-ballistic:

  • FAST Bump (Base Jump)
  • FAST Carbon
  • FAST SF Carbon Composite
Specifications
Weight667–1592 g (1.47–3.51 lbs), depending on size and model

The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, is an American combat helmet used by special operations forces and law enforcement organizations in various countries, as well as the current standard protective headgear of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The FAST helmet series features a distinctive shell shape, with ear cut geometry which extends coverage over the rear occipital bone without load carrier interference, and optimizes weight distribution for increased stability, integration, balance, and comfort. The helmet features various suspension and retention systems, and ARC rails which, similar to picatinny rails, enable users to mount items like helmet lights and cameras.

Due to its popularity within special forces communities, copies of the helmet have been produced by Russian and Chinese companies for adoption by the two countries' special forces, along with export markets.

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 also led to the development of the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH).[2][3]

The name FAST helmet was coined by a manufacturing company called Ops-Core in 2005.[4] 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.[5] It was issued to U.S. special forces operators deployed in Afghanistan.[6]

In 2019, U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Gentex a contract worth $95 million to supply Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut Helmets.[1]

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.[2][3] It was also designed to allow outside features such as wearing communications headsets which can be attached with rail adapters.[7]

Design

U.S. Marine Raider wearing a FAST Maritime helmet.

The FAST helmet ranges in weight from about 667–1592 g (1.47–3.51 lbs). The type of UHMWPE material for the ballistic FAST models provides increased protection against NIJ Level IIIA handgun rounds. It can be fitted with a mounting bracket, patented first in 2014,[8] for accessories like night vision goggles and communications headsets,[9] similar to PASGT and MICH.[10] The Velcro featured on to the helmet also allows for the wearer to attach national flag or the emblem of unit which they belong to, in addition to other IFF (Identification friend or foe) patches such as call sign and blood type .

Users can wear it with different communications headsets with ease and comfort. It has different color options, such as foliage green, black, olive green, ranger green, tan 499, urban grey, MultiCam and desert MARPAT.[11] As well as having mesh and cloth helmet covers in varying camouflage patterns.

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 and 7.62x51mm due to the 0.400" (10.16mm) shell thickness. The different color options are black, tan 499, ranger green, urban gray and MultiCam.[12]

The FAST XR Helmet System represents an intermediate in protection between the SF line of helmets and the RF1 Helmet System, protecting against 7.62x39mm rifle rounds at a distance of 10 feet, but not against larger rounds such as 7.62x51mm. This is due to having a shell thickness of 0.280" (7.112mm). It is far lighter than the RF1, averaging at only about half a pound heavier than the SF helmet, depending on the type of chinstrap. It is available in Tan 499, Ranger Green, MultiCam, Black, and Urban Gray.[13]

In addition to military and law enforcements, the non-ballistic version of the helmet also has gained considerable popularity among civilian occupations, such as outdoor sportsmen, journalists, disaster relief personnel and other field workers due to its modular design.

Foreign Copies

Russian SSO operator wearing a LShZ 1+ helmet.


GSOF operator wearing the Georgian DH MK-III.

Due to the helmet's widespread adoption, many countries (mainly China and Russia) have successfully copied and manufactured their own versions of FAST helmets or other similar High-Cut helmets for use by their special forces and police tactical units, and export to friendly countries. While other companies have produced and released cheap imitations for survival games. However, most of these foreign copies were not made under license by the Ops-Core company, and the bulletproof performance is generally inferior to the real helmets.

One of the notable example of these foreign copies is LShZ 1+ light combat helmet made by Russian company Armocom, which first appeared publicly in 2012. At first glance, the helmet looks superficially similar to the original FAST, but compared to the helmets made by Ops-Core, it has flatter shell and was designed to mount domestically designed Russian night vision and communication devices instead of American-made ones. LShZ 1+ and other Russian copies of FAST helmet are known to be used by various Russian Spetsnaz units and special operations forces of other post-Soviet states.

Users

Current

Former

References

  1. 1 2 3 "US Special Operations Command reveals new helmet for operators | SOFREP".
  2. 1 2 3 "ARL-led program enables new manufacturing processes for ballistic protection". EurekaAlert!. May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  3. 1 2 National Research Council (2014). "Evolution of Combat Helmets based". Review of Department of Defense Test Protocols for Combat Helmets. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
  4. "THE FAST HELMET | FUTURE ASSAULT SHELL TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED". Hard Head Veterans. June 1, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  5. "Ops-Core Releases New Products - Soldier Systems Daily". 4 March 2009.
  6. 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.
  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. "Helmet mounted rail".
  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. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  11. "NOWAR security equipment GMBH -".
  12. "Ops-Core FAST RF1 High Cut Helmet System". Gentex Corporation. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  13. "Ops-Core FAST XR High Cut Helmet System". Gentex Corporation. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  14. Akramov (2020-10-29). "Algérie: Gladius 2.0 comme système de soldat des forces spéciales". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-19.
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  16. "Ejército gradúa a integrantes del curso de Fuerzas Especiales 2020". 29 July 2020.
  17. "Night Hawk afsluttet". Forsvaret. 7 October 2021.
  18. Oinas-Panuma, Olga (4 June 2022). "Erään yksikön asuvalinta lippujuhlan päivän paraatissa kiinnitti katsojien huomion – "Tämä oli ensimmäinen kerta"". Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
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  26. https://specijalne-jedinice.com/srbija/zandarmerija-english.php
  27. "Ops-Core Helmet Saves Turkish Soldier's Life - Soldier Systems Daily". 10 December 2015.
  28. "Ukrainian Spetnaz's Weapons and Gear May Show an American Touch". 8 June 2017.
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  34. "Graphic Video Reportedly Shows Taliban Executing Afghan SF Prisoners". 10 July 2021.
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