8 Different Helmets Used by Indian Armed Forces

Combat helmet

A combat helmet or battle helmet is a  helmet,which is a one of the most important piece of personal armor designed specifically to protect the head during combat.

There are various different COMBAT HELMET's used by the Army.Different Helmet's are used due to various factors which include ease of mobility , weight , cost and upgradable equipment.

1. M1 Helmet ( Old One)

M1 Helmet was used  earlier by the Indian Infantry. They were made of an inner liner(made of Manganese Steel) and a outer core(made of canvas).They weighed around 1.2 kg(pretty heavy by today's standards), but they were effective in stopping a 9mm round.

Weight : 1.2 KG.

Stopping Power : 9mm round.

2. Model 1974

The Indian Army currently uses (in very large quantity)the Model 1974 Helmets as the standard issue for any Infantry Soldier. These are composite fiber glass helmets. In it's interior it has a nylon suspension liner and is lined with green plastic. These are  made in India.

3.Patka

It is Indigenously developed combat helmets for Indian Army Soldiers especially  operating in Kashmir . It is very much lighter than Indian Army standard Model 1974 Helmet but also it does not trade off the protection required as it gives protection against variety of lethal /close range rounds.

It does not cause any ill effects like fatique, headache to the wearer during prolong usage.

 It is also lightweight with its weight around 1 kg to 1.5 kg depending on the roles. It has provision for flaps (Neck, Cheek and Ear cover) with protection against 9mm Pistol/Revolver/Carbine/fragmentation.

It is also compatible with modern attachment like communication devices and Night Vision Devices also.

It is so designed that it is comfortable to wear in extreme cold condition and provides much needed warmth also to wearer.The forhead portion gives protection against 250x75mm Indian ball lead core rounds , SLR 7.62x51mm Indian lead ball round and also 7.62x39mm AK-47 mild steel core ammunition even in close ranges.

Patka at present have been adopted by Rashtriya Rifles Soldiers in Kashmir region and even Indian Army Para Special Forces.

4.Israel-built OR-201 Helmets

The Para Trooper regiments use Israel-built OR-201 Helmets. These are made of GRP(Glass Reinforced Plastic).  They are lightweight and effective in stopping a 9-mm sized-round at close range.

5.Mukut Helmet 

Indian Ministry of Defence  signed a contract with   Kanpur based Indian defense contractor MKU Industries for the supply of 158,000 new helmets, which will be made from Kevlar or another paramid fiber used to make bullet resistant gear.

Two types of helmets MKU makes are :

The first, called as the Mukut combat helmet,which is a ballistic helmet that looks similar to the standard Kevlar helmet worn by some units of the Indian Army and many armies worldwide.
The second helmet,is the Mukut Advanced Combat Helmet, it is a far more different design that protects more of the neck area.It will be generally issued by Combat-Ready troops.

6.SRG Company made Advanced Combat Helmet :

 It is especially used by NSG . Also is come with  various types of different attached rails and visor clamps.

7.FAST Helmets : 

It is an special ops-core helmet used by especially Special Group and PARA SF only .

8.Viper P2 Helmet :

 This is an advanced Combat Helmet. It is especially used by MARCOS , Special Group , Patna Police SWAT and VBSS Operatives.

9.PASGT Helmets : 

It stands for Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops and is made of Kevlar and is rated Level IIIA and can defend against ballistic threats.  Generally found with elite CAPF troops.