Across the ballistic helmet market, the term “rifle-rated” is often used without sufficient detail.

It’s important to recognize that ballistic helmets, especially those marketed as “rifle-rated” are not created equal.

Rifle-rated helmets are the newest generation of ballistic combat helmets. Traditional combat helmets are designed to protect against fragmentation and handgun threats – commonly referred to as Level IIIA-type or HG2-type handgun threats. This means a helmet with a IIIA rating is designed to stop pistol rounds up to and including a .44 mag, 9mm, or 357 Sig.

As the threat environment has evolved, the proliferation of intermediate-calibre rifles (7.62×39 mm AK‑pattern rifles, 5.45×39 mm and 5.56×45 mm weapons, mild-steel-core and other common rifle threats) and the rise in close-quarters urban combat, is forcing militaries to recognise that the level IIIA-type threat protection rating no longer provides sufficient protection against the reality of threats that soldiers actually face in the field.

Moving beyond the Level IIIA-type or HG2-type handgun threat protection level has been enabled by a raft of technological advances, including advanced composite materials, no-through hole shells, and improved energy absorbing liners that together improve the protection vs weight balancing act. These ballistic helmets, typically marketed as “rifle-rated” now aim to protect against Level III/RF1-type rifle threats, such as 7.62 FMJ lead core.

The issue is, there is no industry-standard for the methods used to test and qualify these helmets for rifle protection. Some helmets are tested using lower-velocity rifle cartridges, reduced-load ammunition, or cartridges such as .300 Blackout. While these are technically rifle rounds, they operate at significantly lower velocities and energies than common military rifle threats.

[Photo: Team Wendy]This is where Team Wendy differentiates itself. The company’s RIFLETECH rifle-rated ballistic helmet protects against Level III/RF1-type rifle threats, with transparent testing data available so that potential users can understand exactly the threats against which it will provide protection in real-world scenarios.

“By providing detailed calibre testing data, there is no misunderstanding of what we are classifying as a rifle calibre,” Shawn Kneisel, Product Specialist, Team Wendy, said. “RIFLETECH is evaluated for resistance to penetration at muzzle velocity, which is the fastest speed a round leaves the weapon, and is the critical measurement when testing rifle ratings.”

Many manufacturers claim rifle ratings but only test their helmets at lower velocities, often specifying a speed that is less than muzzle velocity.

[Photo: Team Wendy]“This means that while the helmet might stop a round under certain conditions, it requires the shooter to be at a distance where the bullet’s velocity has decreased,” Kneisel said. “In extreme terms, almost any helmet could be called “rifle-rated” if the bullet is slow enough due to distance.”

By rating the RIFLETECH helmet to stop rifle rounds at muzzle velocity, it reflects the realities of close-quarters encounters. This distinction is crucial because real-world altercations occur much closer than the distances required to slow down a bullet.

“The reality of combat today is overwhelmingly weighted toward the urban environment, which compresses engagement distances, making short-range rifle fire exceedingly more common,” Kneisel said. “That means more headshots and higher rates of head injuries.”

RIFLETECH’s tested capabilities include NIJ RF1 (STD 0123.00) and Level III/RF1-type rifle threats (STD 0108.01), tested in accordance with NIJ STD 0106.01; and resistance to penetration at muzzle velocity of 7.62×39 MSC, 7.62×51 FMJ (M80 Ball NATO round), 5.56 M193 BT, and 9mm FMJ RN.

The helmet also has a fragment performance of 17gr FSP V50 ≥ 4430 fps (1350 m/s). V50 testing provides valuable comparative insight into a helmet’s resistance to penetration and its overall material capability.  For reference, an Aramid IIIA helmet has a V50 performance of 650 m/s, while the RIFLETECH helmet that is made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material features a V50 performance of 1350 m/s.  This is > 100% increase in 17 gr. V50 performance and highlights the maximum lifesaving potential of this helmet.

When combined with Team Wendy’s proven Ceradyne® Seamless Shell Technology with no thru holes (ensuring the helmet has no structural weak points), and the RIFLETECH Air Fit helmet liner system – developed through extensive research into traumatic brain injury prevention – RIFLETECH offers industry-leading impact protection in a lightweight, mission-ready design.

“We have engineered and tested RIFLETECH to provide real-world protection where it matters most: at the distances where threats actually occur,” Kneisel said. “Understanding these standards and distinctions can make a critical difference in choosing the right ballistic helmet for your needs.”

Team Wendy