Original U.S. Late 1970s Early Natick Laboratories Pre-Production Experimental PASGT Ceramic Ballistic Helmet - Ca. 1978

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent, very scarce example of an early experimental ceramic ballistic PASGT helmet. While many versions were created in attempts to find a solid replacement for the famed M1 helmets, many countries and corporations took to researching the different types of material that could be used, this is one of the lesser variations created.

Designed in the mid-1970s as a replacement for the M1 helmet and previous fragmentation vests, prototypes of the PASGT were tested in the late 1970s before being fielded in the early 1980s. In the early 2000s, the PASGT vest began being replaced by the IBA and the PASGT helmet was replaced soon thereafter with the LWH and MICH. As of 2018, the only remaining U.S. military users of PASGT in any capacity are the U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. Navy, the latter of which retains the PASGT helmet for use by sailors aboard its warships, in addition to a PASGT-derived vest known as the "U.S. Navy Flak Jacket".

The helmet itself is in good condition and retains most of its green paint on the exterior with heavy wear and succfing revealing the white paint underneath. Since these were never fielded, the wear that is present is consistent with long term storage. The suspension/sweatband system is still intact. There is no chinstrap. There are some markings including SN3 scratched into the finish under the brim, and some writing in marker on the interior shell.

A great, rare example ready for further research and display.