Air Force Moves Ahead With New Helmet Prototype

The U.S. Air Force selected LIFT Airborne Technologies to develop its next-generation helmet for fixed-wing air crews.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 01:50 PM ET

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The U.S. Air Force is redesigning its helmet for fixed-wing aircrews for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Dana Tourtellotte)

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is developing a next-generation helmet to replace its nearly 40-year-old design, aiming to address issues like aircrew neck and back injuries, poor fit for diverse demographics (including women), and lack of optimization for modern helmet-mounted display systems.
LIFT Airborne Technologies has been selected to develop the prototype, which will be lighter, cooler, and offer a better, more customized fit through features like Koroyd material construction and a five-liner pad system.
The prototype will undergo further testing, with a production contract expected in 2024 and a phased distribution to all fixed-wing aircrews, starting with F-15E Strike Eagle personnel.

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The U.S. Air Force says its fixed-wing aircrews are a step closer to getting a lighter, cooler, and better-fitting redesign of their nearly 40-year-old helmet.

The Air Force announced this week it has chosen LIFT Airborne Technologies to develop its next-generation helmet prototype that will address issues such as long-term neck and back injuries, pilot longevity, and improved fit across various sizes, genders, and ethnicities.