Rotary-Wing Advanced Tactical Helmet (RATH)

Branding Iron, April 27, 2023 - The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Abn) is procuring a new flight helmet after more than several decades of service with the HGU-56P and SPH-4B helmets.

Air missions have become increasingly complex with the need for improved situational awareness in multi-threat environments requiring integration of sophisticated identification, tracking, and targeting technology.

USSOCOM and the 160th SOAR (Abn) are being utilized by the Army and greater DoD entities more than ever before while being asked to do so with head borne equipment dating back to the Vietnam era.

The need to upgrade head borne equipment for future generations of vertical lift personnel has become critically important.

Decreasing head borne weight is one of the most important challenges facing aircrew missions today. Head borne weight not only causes fatigue and is a detriment to aircrew performance but is also responsible for long-term neck injuries and permanent disabilities, shortening the careers of aviators.

A February 2019 report to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives “Study on Health of Helicopter and Tiltrotor Pilots” states,

“Knox, et al. (2018) analyzed the U.S. Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED) for cases of lumbar disc herniation among military helicopter pilots from 2006 to 2015 and found its incidence rate to be significantly higher than that of a control group composed of all U.S. military non-helicopter pilot officers. This effect was particularly strong among Army helicopter pilots, who had an incidence rate almost three times more than that of USN and USMC helicopter pilots” and “A business case analysis sponsored by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment concluded that avoidable costs associated with back and neck pain among DoD helicopter aircrew totaled over $239 million each year, with a significant cost per year in Department of Veterans Affairs payments for flying-related disabilities”.

Thanks to the hard work and more than five years coordinated efforts between USAARL, AFRL, SOFWERX, USSOCOM, and the 160th SOAR (Abn), a new helmet system has been developed to address on-going capability gaps with legacy aircrew equipment. The RATH sets a new bar for performance and protection with performance capabilities never before available to the aircrew community.

Rotary-wing Advanced Tactical Helmet (R.A.T.H) specifications

- Meets / exceeds all US Army FNS / PD 96-18 Safety Requirements & Specifications

- 6 unique* helmet shell sizes - does not put extra liner padding in larger sizes to create smaller sizes

- 24% average weight reduction across all sizes when compared to legacy HGU-56P helmet

- 9% increase in side-to-side field of view when compared to legacy HGU-56P helmet

- Optional ballistic applique to provide protection from small arms fire & fragments

- Ventilated carbon fiber shell with “penetration proof” Dyneema™ ballistic liner

- Koroyd™ damage control honeycomb liner with up to 18% more compression than EPS foam

- Lightweight adjustable dial suspension and retention liner assembly

- Hot swap ballistic visor can be changed in less than 30 seconds without tools

- Clear & tinted ballistic Class 1 visor

- Side mounting rails for lights & accessories

- Easy snap / release chinstrap buckle

- Quick-release ANVIS NVG shroud

- Headset - can be worn independently from helmet

- Hearing pass-thru with dynamic sound suppression and volume control

- UmeCobra™ boom microphone offers and average of 10 dB improvement of legacy M-87 mic

- Gel earseals & adjustable nape pad for custom sizing and compression adjustment
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