Is The US Army’s New Helmet a Complete Disaster? The IHPS

Published on May 7, 2023
Duration: 18:18

The US Army's new Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) is a significant upgrade over the older Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH). While not a complete disaster, the IHPS demonstrates improved ballistic protection, particularly against rifle rounds like the 7.62x39mm, and offers better compatibility with communication headsets. Testing revealed it stops more threats than the ECH, though deformation remains a concern with high-powered handgun rounds.

Quick Summary

The US Army's IHPS helmet is a significant upgrade over the ECH, offering improved ballistic protection against rifle rounds and better communication headset compatibility. While it stops high-powered handgun rounds like the .44 Magnum, significant backface deformation indicates a risk of serious injury.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: IHPS vs ECH
  2. 01:54Technical Design Improvements
  3. 03:38Ballistic Testing: .22 Caliber
  4. 05:22Ballistic Testing: 9mm
  5. 07:00Ballistic Testing: .44 Magnum
  6. 09:29Ballistic Testing: 7.62x39mm (AKM)
  7. 11:41Long-Range Testing: 5.56mm
  8. 13:54Shotgun and SVD Testing
  9. 15:18Final Assessment: Is IHPS a Disaster?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the US Army's new IHPS helmet a significant improvement over the ECH?

Yes, the IHPS is a clear improvement over the ECH. It offers superior ballistic protection, especially against rifle threats like the 7.62x39mm, is lighter, and has better compatibility with communication headsets.

How does the IHPS perform against high-powered handgun rounds like the .44 Magnum?

The IHPS successfully stops .44 Magnum rounds, but exhibits significant backface deformation. While survivable, this level of deformation suggests a high risk of serious injury upon impact.

What are the key design changes in the IHPS compared to the ECH?

The IHPS features a boltless shell design (except for the NVG mount) to reduce potential weak points. It also prioritizes better integration with modern communication headsets like Peltor.

Did the IHPS pass all ballistic tests conducted in the video?

The IHPS stopped all tested calibers (.22, 9mm, .44 Magnum, 7.62x39mm, 5.56mm, 12-gauge buckshot). However, significant backface deformation occurred with .44 Magnum and 12-gauge buckshot, and it predictably failed against the SVD round at close range.

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