Over the past few years, governments have invested in top-of-the-line gear for their soldiers. One of the areas where governments have dedicated a lot of attention is combat helmets. Studies have shown that since 9/11, more than 300,000 soldiers have returned from combat with CTE. CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a degenerative disease that occurs after repeated head trauma.
It should come as no surprise that governments are investing in new combat helmet designs. Below, we’ll highlight a few of the companies and products that are revolutionizing the headwear keeping our soldiers safe in combat.
Growth Of The Global Advanced Combat Helmet Market
Four years ago, the global advanced combat helmet had a valuation of roughly $1.7 billion. According to Transparency Market Research, the industry is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 6.3 percent between 2015 and 2024. By 2024, experts believe that the valuation of the global advanced combat helmet industry will exceed $3 billion. North America will have the largest valuation. In terms of total valuation, companies are expected to rank:
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- The Middle East and Africa
In the study, Transparency Market Research indicates that the primary reason for the expected growth is because helmets are quickly becoming a part of a soldier’s attack and defense mechanisms.
Who Are The Key Players In The Global Advanced Combat Helmet Market?
In North America, there are a few companies who play a critical role in the combat helmet market. The companies well-known within the industry include ArmorSource LLC, BAE Systems, MKU Ltd, and Gentex Corporation. Additionally, in the past couple of years, companies like DuPont and Revision Military have also become prominent in the industry.
Why Do Some Countries Lack In Terms Of Helmet Development?
North America is the leader in global combat helmets, and it has a strong lead on other countries. One of the primary reasons for this is because advanced helmets cost significantly more to make than conventional helmets. When manufacturers add tactical gear like night vision to the helmet, it drives the cost tremendously. Transparency Market Research indicates that they expect these issues to decrease over time.
What Times Of Helmets Are Governments Delivering To Soldiers?
Today’s helmets, especially in the United States, are unlike anything soldiers have worn before. Companies have made it a point to revolutionize the design to provide soldiers with a state-of-the-art product. For instance, one of the helmets set to see combat soon is half the weight than the helmets worn currently by soldiers. This helmet uses the same materials as the existing model, merely changing how they produced plastic.
Manufacturers will make this help of molecular-weight polyethylene, a material that is lighter than Kevlar. The shell, with nothing added, weights approximately 2.5 pounds. Added accessories bring the weight of the helmet to 3.25 pounds.
Engineers have admitted that they struggle to find the balance between increased weight and protection. One would think that to make the helmets more protective; engineers would need to add weight. However, engineers also want to make sure that soldiers can move effortlessly without being weighed down by extra weight on their head. A heavy helmet could cause extreme fatigue, especially during missions that last upwards of 12 hours.
Lastly, even though today’s helmets are lighter, they provide soldiers with increased protection from bullets and shrapnel. Today’s helmets can protect against 9mm rounds. Engineers are continually working to develop helmets that can protect soldiers from more dangerous items. It will be interesting to see how advanced the helmets are by the time the market exceeds $3 billion in 2024.
