Production will soon begin for the U.S. Army's Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II (ACH GEN II), an upgraded version that is arguably the best combat helmet in the world.

A five-year contract to manufacture the new lightweight helmets was recently awarded to Revision Military, a company based in Vermont that develops and delivers purpose-built protective soldier equipment for military use worldwide.

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The $98 million contract will see Revision Military manufacture 293,870 ACH GEN II helmets for the U.S. Army. Revision said the ACH GEN II helmets will be up to 24 percent lighter than the current Advanced Combat Helmet or ACH fielded in 2003.

The ACH GEN II helmets will weigh 2.2 kg less than the original ACH while offering the same ballistic protection. It will be made from ballistic fiber such as Kevlar and Twaron.

Revision said the ACH GEN II contract it received represents the first large-scale, significant advance in ACH technology in 15 years. Revision last produced ACH helmets for the U.S. Army in 2012. It delivered 180,000 helmets under this last contract.

Since then, however, Revision has invested millions of dollars in new manufacturing equipment and processes, research into the characterization and optimization of advanced ballistic materials, and in the building of a world-class team of scientists and engineers.

Revision's Newport, Vermont facility (where the ACH GEN II helmets will be manufactured) has expanded by 16,000 sq. ft., and the number of employees that work at this facility has more than doubled.

The ACH Gen II solicitation by the army required a minimum 15 percent weight reduction compared to the current ACH helmet. Revision's solution offers up to 24 percent weight reduction over the legacy ACH design while maintaining superior ballistic protection.

"With this solicitation, PEO Soldier challenged the helmet industry, raising the technology bar substantially. Revision answered in a big way, dedicating significant resources to set a new standard for lightweight helmet design and performance," said CEO Jonathan Blanshay.

PEO Soldier or  Program Executive Office Soldier is the army unit responsible for equipping the army with the finest equipment and protection available as quickly as possible.

Revision has delivered 1.1 million helmets to the U.S. military, with an additional 300,000 helmets internationally. It claims it's the most experienced and most knowledgeable Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) manufacturer in the industry.

TagsU.S. Army, Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II, ACH GEN II, Helmet, Revision Military