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
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. Such copies can be bought by civilians for relatively cheap on websites like
AliExpress and are popular within the airsoft, paintball and re-enactment community as well as army equipment fans.
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 that were released in 2018.[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
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
NIJLevel IIIAhandgun 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 released in 2021 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 Tan 499, Ranger Green, MultiCam, Black, and Urban Gray.[12]
The FAST XR Helmet System released in 2022 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.
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.
Afghanistan: 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.
Georgia: Bullet-resistant analogue DH MK-III made by
STC Delta as standard issue helmet for Georgian special operations and reconnaissance forces. Used also by police and state security special units.[19]
Malaysia: In 2016, a contract was signed with Usahawan PSE Sdn Bhd to supply FAST helmets to the Malaysian military under RM45.9 million.[20] The first Malaysian unit issued with the helmet is the
7th Royal Ranger Regiment.[21]
Norway: 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.[22] This replaces the PASGT made by Cato Ringstad.[23]
Turkey: Used by special forces units of
Turkish Armed Forces, with a reported incident where a Turkish soldier's life was saved when his Ops-Core Sentry-type helmet was shot at in 2015.[28]
United States: Used by
special operations forces.
Delta Force 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,
Special Forces (Green Berets),
75th Ranger Regiment and
Marine Raider Regiment use the FAST Maritime[2][31] as well as the FAST SF.[1]
In use with the
LAPDSWAT, where a
SWAT officer credited the helmet for saving his life from being shot in the head in 2017.[32] Also used by the
NYPD ESU.