A modern German Army Gefechtshelm
The Gefechtshelm M92 (or Gefechtshelm Schuberth B826) is the standard issue combat helmet of the Bundeswehr, first fielded in 1992 as a replacement of earlier steel helmets that were previously used during the Cold War. It is made from Aramid composite materials and is used by all branches of the Bundeswehr.
Development[]
The Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung) commissioned the Federal Ministry of Defence to investigate new helmet concepts since the end of the 1960s. In order to achieve a higher impact strength, different materials were tested, including titanium and plastics. However, at that time the use of titanium helmets was uneconomical due to the high production costs, while plastics were not mature enough at the time to meet military demands; composite materials were also checked.
Schuberth GmbH developed the M92 based on the PASGT helmet (Personal Armor System for Ground Troops) of the US Army, consisting of 29 layers of Kevlar aramid fiber. During the US invasion of Grenada, the American soldiers had surprised the public for the first time with their new plastic helmet, which in profile clearly borrowed from the German Stahlhelm M35 and received the nickname "Fritz" from the GIs. Since this modern US helmet consciously took up the well-proven form of the German Stahhelm M35 and interpreted it in a modern way, the new German combat helmet (designated with the code 10797 and introduced on 15 January 1992) gave up the old American M1 style and visually approached the M35. The development costs amounted to 2.64 million DM. Helmets were supplied by Schuberth and from the Spanish supplier Induyco.[1]
The M92 combat helmets can be equipped with a variety of usable accessories such as a built-in radio or infrared scope; coverings made of various camouflage fabrics are also in common use particularly during exercises.