The Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, is a

combat helmet A combat helmet or battle helmet is a type of helmet. It is a piece of personal armor designed specifically to protect the head during combat. Modern combat helmets are mainly designed to protect from shrapnel and fragments, offer some pro ...

used by special operations forces and

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. The term ...

organizations. The FAST helmet series features a distinctive shell shape, with ear cut geometry which extends coverage over the rear

occipital bone The occipital bone () is a cranial dermal bone and the main bone of the occiput (back and lower part of the skull). It is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself like a shallow dish. The occipital bone overlies the occipital lobes of the cer ...

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 rail The Picatinny rail ( or ), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, 1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was ...

s, enable users to mount items like helmet lights and cameras.

History

It was developed by the

U.S. Army Research Laboratory The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) is the U.S. Army's foundational research laboratory. ARL is headquartered at the Adelphi Laboratory Center (ALC) in Adelphi, Maryland. Its largest sing ...

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). The name FAST helmet was coined by a manufacturing company called Ops-Core in 2005. 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 The SHOT Show , which is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show", is an American annual trade show for the shooting sports, hunting, outdoor recreations and firearm manufacturing industries. The show is owned and sponsored b ...

convention. The helmet was publicly revealed in 2009 at the annual SHOT Show. It was issued to U.S. special forces operators deployed in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...

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

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 Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) is a subset of the thermoplastic polyethylene. Also known as high-modulus polyethylene, (HMPE), it has extremely long chains, with a molecular mass usually between 3.5 and 7.5 million amu. ...

fibers (UHMWPE) in its design. It was also designed to allow outside features such as wearing communications headsets which can be attached with rail adapters.

Design

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

handgun A handgun is a short-barrelled gun, typically a firearm, that is designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun (i.e. rifle, shotgun or machine gun, etc.), which needs to be held by both hands and also braced ag ...

rounds. It can be fitted with a mounting bracket, patented first in 2014, for accessories like

night vision goggles A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD), night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The dev ...

and communications headsets, similar to PASGT and MICH. 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. As well as having mesh and cloth

helmet cover The helmet cover was first used by French soldiers during World War I. Helmet covers are usually made out of canvas or cotton and come in many camouflage designs, for example: woodland, desert or urban, and different camouflage patterns like M ...

s 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 A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...

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. 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.

Users

Current

* : The Islamic Emirate Army make use of stocks left over or acquired from Afghan National Army soldiers and commandos. In use with the Badri 313 Battalion. * : Used by the Algerian special forces. *: Used by special forces units since 2010 and the

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Fo ...

since 2015. Also worn by Police Tactical Groups of each state. * : 20,000 Sentry XP Mid Cut-type helmets ordered in 2016, adopted by the Austrian Armed Forces in 2017. * : Used by the Special Forces of the Chilean Army. * : OEM factories produce cloned helmets for use in multiple countries, FAST-styled helmets are also in use with the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the China, People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five Military branch, service branches: the People's ...

and

People's Armed Police ) , abbreviation = PAP ("People's Armed Police") CAPF ("Chinese Armed Police Force"), formerly abbreviated''Wujing'' ( zh , s = 武警 , p = Wǔjǐng , l = Armed Police , labels = no ), or WJ as on vehicle license plates , patch ...

. * : Worn by Finnish Naval Special Forces Coastal Jaegers and the Guards jaeger Regiments city jaegers. * : Used by the Special Operations Command's units and specialized conventional units such as the Commando Parachute Group and Mountain Commando Group. * : Used by the Special Forces of the

Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...

and

Hellenic Navy The Hellenic Navy (HN; el, Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, War Navy, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy historically hails from the naval forces of var ...

* : Used by Kopaska'' (KomandoPasukan Katak) Frogman of the Indonesian Navy. '' * : Used by Israeli special forces units. * : In use with Special Forces Groups * : In 2016, a contract was signed with Usahawan PSE Sdn Bhd to supply FAST helmets to the Malaysian military under RM45.9 million. The first Malaysian unit issued with the helmet is the 7th Royal Ranger Regiment. *: It is currently used by various units within the

Mexican Army The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National ...

and

Naval Infantry Corps The Naval Infantry Corps ( es, Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina) are the naval infantry and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the ''Infantería de Marina'' is to guarantee the maritime security of the country's port ...

. *: Used by

New Zealand Special Air Service The 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment, abbreviated as 1 NZSAS Regt, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the Special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins ...

(NZSAS) and

Armed Offenders Squad The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) are specialist part-time units of the New Zealand Police based around the country available to respond to high risk incidents using specialist tactics and equipment. The AOS was established when front-line pol ...

of the New Zealand Police. * : In 2011, the Norwegian Defense Logistic Organization (NDLO) selected the FAST helmet as the new standard issue protective headgear for the Norwegian Army and National Guard. The decision was made after positive results from rounds of ballistic and safety testing and has been previously fielded by the Norwegian Special Forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. This replaces the PASGT made by Cato Ringstad. * : Different variations of Ops Core FAST. helmets and clone copies are used by different units in the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...

and

Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police ( fil, Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, acronymed as PNP) is the armed national police force in the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currentl ...

but the most notable users are the Philippine NAVSOCOM as they are the first unit to use them starting late 2015. * : FAST Ballistic High Cut helmets used by JW GROM and JW Formoza operators. 50 thousand HP-05 ordered for Polish Army. * : FAST helmets used by most Gendarmery units. * : FAST Maritime Helmets used by Särskilda operationsgruppen. * : Used by

Special Forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equi ...

. * : Used by Used by ROKASWC, ROKNSWF and

707th Special Mission Group The 707th Special Mission Group ( ko, 제707특수임무단, Hanja: 第707特殊任務團) is an elite counter-terrorism unit of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command. History The unit was formed after the Munich massacre, which fo ...

. * : Used by the Turkish Army, with a reported incident where a Turkish soldier's life was saved when his Ops-Core Sentry-type helmet was shot at in 2015. * : Used by Ukrainian Spetsnaz Forces. Also in rapid use with National Guard of Ukraine upon Russian buildup on border in 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis * : The UAE Presidential Guard is equipped with the FAST Ballistic High Cut helmet, announced in 2013. * : Used by the Pathfinder Group and the

United Kingdom Special Forces The United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a directorate comprising the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forc ...

. * : Used by special operations forces.

Delta Force The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), referred to variously as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), "The Unit", or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Task Fo ...

has used the FAST XP helmet (MultiCam shell) since around 2015, though SF (also in MultiCam) is in use as well. Some DEVGRU operators had used the FAST XP (with AOR1 paintjob) until the FAST Maritime (AOR1 shell) started being officially issued in 2011. Navy SEALs use the LBH (same cut as an XP, but with a different velcro shape pattern and the shell material is the same as that of the Maritime) with AOR1 shell and SWCC with AOR2 shell. AFSOC,

(Green Berets),

75th Ranger Regiment The 75th Ranger Regiment, also known as Army Rangers, is the U.S. Army's premier light infantry unit and special operations force within the United States Army Special Operations Command. The regiment is headquartered at Fort Benning, G ...

and

Marine Raider Regiment The Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), formerly known as the Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR), is a special operations force of the United States Marine Corps, which is a part of Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Renamed ...

use the FAST Maritime as well as the FAST SF. ** In use with the

LAPD The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officially known as the City of Los Angeles Police Department, is the municipal police department of Los Angeles, California. With 9,974 police officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the third-large ...

SWAT In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

, where a

officer credited the helmet for saving his life from being shot in the head in 2017. **Small number of FAST SF helmets purchased by the FBI. *

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making ...

: In December 2020, it was reported that Z176 Factory has been producing copies of the High Cut helmets for police and Special Forces use.

Former

* : Used by the Afghan National Army Commando Corps.

Gallery

File:District governor visits a local school 130415-M-BO337-031.jpg, U.S.

Marine Raider The Marine Raiders are special operations forces originally established by the United States Marine Corps during World War II to conduct amphibious light infantry warfare. " Edson's" Raiders of 1st Marine Raider Battalion and " Carlson's" R ...

wearing a FAST Maritime helmet. File:A U.S. Marine with a Marine special operations team assists with security during the construction of an Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoint in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30, 2013 130330-M-BO337-085.jpg File:Finnish Naval Special Forces, Trident Juncture 15 (22641111371).jpg File:Gen. Ray Odierno observes a live fire exercise.jpg File:Eager Lion '15 concludes with monumental military demonstration 150518-A-XL223-006.jpg File:10th CWS releasing weather balloon at Eglin.JPG File:LAPD SWAT Exercise 3.jpg File:Special Operations Air Insertion, RIMPAC 2014 140710-N-PX130-101.jpg File:03.30 「臺北市106年全民防衛暨2017臺北世界大學運動會災害防救及金華演習」憲兵特勤隊 33734411565 89cf298803 o.jpg File:CGA-STU 3.jpg File:NAVSOG at the SEACAT 2018 Exercise 002.jpg File:104rmo training5.png

References

External links

FUATURED PRODUCTS FAST HelmetOps-Core FAST RF1 High Cut Helmet System
{{Helmets Military technology Combat helmets of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2000s