The Head Gear System is a future headgear ensemble under development by the U.S. Army. HGS attempts to integrate head protection against ballistics, fragmentation, blast, blunt force, flash heat, and noise into a single lightweight, modular, scalable headgear system. Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier is working to develop a Soldier-centric Head Gear System (HGS) that provides ballistic and traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...

 protection as well as face, neck, and hearing protection. The HGS also will incorporate integrated sensor inputs along with display hardware and software for increased situational awareness. The system will address technology gaps identified by the Capabilities Development Integration Directorate of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.

Design

The headgear system will be based on a modular platform for which protection levels and system enhancements can be added or removed based on mission requirements and/or predetermined threat assessments. HGS will be a lightweight, multifunctional system that protects Soldiers from wounds to the face and neck without degrading range of motion or mobility. Hearing protection will also be included. The system will monitor the degradation of a Soldier’s ability to continue operations and will record exposure to blast events. Modular, integrated chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protection. Optimized sensor packages for use in all natural and man-made conditions, such as obscurants, will be included. The helmet system will be designed to be easily upgradeable.

Development

The HGS development effort will mature, evaluate, integrate, and demonstrate technologies for improved system performance in the areas of ballistic and impact protection, hearing protection and hearing enhancement, video displays, audio and communications systems, training sensors, and CBRN capabilities, with the overarching goal of improving comfort and combat-effectiveness. The projected completion date for this initiative is FY12.

See also

• Enhanced Combat Helmet
  Enhanced Combat Helmet (United States)
  The Enhanced Combat Helmet is a United States Marine Corps program to replace the combat helmets of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines using thermoplastics instead of the ballistic fibers used on the current generation combat helmets.- Design :...
  
  
• Lightweight Helmet
  Lightweight Helmet
  The Lightweight Helmet is the U.S. Marine Corps replacement for the PASGT combat helmet. As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot...
  
  
• Advanced Combat Helmet
  Advanced Combat Helmet
  The Advanced Combat Helmet is the United States Army's current combat helmet. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...
  
  
• Soldier Protection Demonstration
  Soldier Protection Demonstration
  The Soldier Protection Demonstration is a PEO Soldier program for evaluating ballistic vests for the U.S. Army. Seven tests have been conducted since August 2006 and the eighth is underway.Demo 1Conducted in August 2006.Demo 2Conducted in May 2007.Demo 3...