While the weapons do the offensive jobs, the apt competency of soldiers’ protective headgear and associated equipment is what that can give the edge to any side with additional advantages overpowering the other side. So India being the second largest army and having the upper echelon of various special forces units, does our helmet tech compliment our trigger-handled and button-pressed offensive power. Let’s hop on!
Active Headgear Across All Indian Units:
Patka Ballistic Helmet – The Patka is the ground baseline for India’s helmet family tree. Not a very conventional looking helmet, the Patka has a flat head unlike other helmets and has been extensively used by numerous branches of the Indian Army across the continent. Having a mixture of steel and Kevlar in the protection area, this helmet has been designed specifically to resist smaller calibre rounds. It gives protection against all 9mm Full Metal Jacket rounds across the circumference of the head which means it is fully capable of stopping pistol and SMG fire. Ball core lead rounds from carbines have also been seen stopped at 25 metres range by the Patka but considering the current advancements, this ‘already veteran’ helmet has seen its remarkable tenure and is also in the process of being replaced by more modern options.
MKU Mukut – MKU is one of the premium military protective gear manufacturers of India and you will know more once you scroll down further. And Mukut is one of the starting line active duty products for our Armed Forces. Actual capabilities of this helmet are classified by the company. It is one of the most widely used helms across the divisions and the only credible opens-source info available is that it comes with Reduced Helmet Trauma (RHT), a proprietary protection tech of MKU coupled with the Behind Armour Blunt Trauma (BABT), which reduces resultant trauma upon it, protects from bullet fragments and shrapnel and offers 40% reduction in impact trauma than other conventional composite helmet.
Model 1974 Ballistic Helmet – This is the most widely inducted standard issue active duty helmet of the Indian Army. This entry occasionally finds itself in a debatable side whether this mass-produced standard issue helmet is worth giving to our bravehearts because certainly it lacks consistent bullet ballistics protection especially from rifle rounds such as 5.56 and 7.62 AK bullets. Moreover these are bolted helmets which makes sense considering the allegations because bolt-free helmets always perform better than bolted ones due to greater structural integrity and uniform protection. More than 1.5 million units of the Model 1974 are being used across the country.
Kasda OR-201 – Credited as one of the first ballistic helmets, the OR-201 is an Israeli helmet used especially in India’s special forces divisions. Designed and manufactured by Orlite Industries, the OR-201 comes with glass-reinforces plastic and Kevlar composite protection with three consecutive layers of 25mm bulletproof material. It is lighter and sturdier than the previously mentioned helms and is thoroughly able to protect itself from pistols and SMGs. But being a foreign brand with application in special forces doesn’t mean that it is an absolute state-of-the-art sample. The OR-201s used in India aren’t exactly the latest variants as the original Israeli is up by two upgrades of what India actually uses.
Galvion P2 Viper – Certified to meet rigorous NIJ Level IIIA standards, the Galvion Viper P2 helmet can effectively shield the operator against incoming .45s, 9mms of pistols, SMGs, subsonic .300 Blackouts and medium-rifle fire upto a certain distance. It is also a blast fragmentation protection helmet by effectively stopping incoming shrapnel and reduces blunt trauma. It has a high cut design and the interior is equipped with a modular pad suspension system that includes impact absorbing pads which are both adjustable and replaceable. It is complemented with the Viper Modular Suspension System and NVD mount. It comes with the ARC Rail System for the attachment of comms mounts, thermals, tactical lights etc. The P2 Viper has been specifically seen in most of India’s special forces units.
Team Wendy Exfil HiCut Ballistic Helmet – The Exfil HiCut Ballistic Helmet, manufactured by Team Wendy, stands out as a high-performance protective headgear tailored for military and law enforcement applications. The helmet’s shell is a hybrid composite, meticulously crafted from a blend of carbon fibre, uni-directional polyethylene, and woven aramid, resulting in a robust structure that meets NIJ Level IIIA ballistic protection standards. Its HiCut design enhances situational awareness and freedom of movement, critical for dynamic operational environments. The interior features the Zorbium foam liner, a customizable padding system that enhances comfort and impact absorption. This is complemented by the Boa Fit System, which enables precise, one-handed adjustment for a secure and snug fit, and Cam-Lock sliders that ensure stability during rigorous activities. It has been tested as a proven stopper for all small-calibre and carbine rounds with a suitable frontal protection from higher calibres like AK rounds.
Now helmets itself aren’t enough to save one patriot and equally give the person an edge in combat. So there comes the need for attachments (if applicable). A high-end combat helmet can be defined as one which not only gives a suitable extent of protection but also has the provision of becoming a complete technological marvel with the help of attachments like Night Vision goggles/ provision of communication systems/ helmet-mounted illumination devices/ recording devices / ballistic visors etc. (as needed according to demand and mission). But unlike some other attachments, let’s stick to the one of the most important ones for this article – helmet mounted night-vision/infrared/etc. equipment because a cutting edge helmet with similar visual modifications give one of the most needed first person combat advantages to any soldier. Countries needing to equip entire fleets of patriots with state-of-the-art helmets with other beneficiary devices directly reflect on the budget big time. So does India rank among the contenders having soldiers prepped with advantages other than the handheld weapons to win over the threat considering the tremendous enmity among the neighbours?
The Indian military utilizes both Generation 2 (Gen-2) and Generation 3 (Gen-3) Night Vision Devices (NVDs) in their helmets to enhance their operational effectiveness during night-time and low-light conditions. Gen-2 Night Vision Devices utilize a microchannel plate to amplify the available light, providing clear images in low-light conditions, moderate resolution and sensitivity suitable for general night time operations. They are effective for medium-range engagements and surveillance, and equally robust and reliable in various field operations. Gen-2s are widely used by infantry soldiers in night patrols, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and are commonly integrated into standard issue equipment due to their balanced performance and cost. Gen-3 Night Vision Devices employs a gallium arsenide photocathode for superior light amplification, resulting in high-resolution images. Having high resolution and sensitivity they provide clearer and brighter images even in extremely low-light conditions. These are very effective even in long range engagements and detailed surveillance and are capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions due to enhanced durability and longevity. Predominantly used by special forces and elite units requiring high-performance equipment for critical missions, Gen-3s are much more versatile and are employed in operations requiring superior night vision capabilities, counter terrorism, hostage rescue and extraction missions, covert surveillance etc. Here comes some of the best NVDs used by Indian Armed Forces.
AN/PVS-7 – The AN/PVS-7 night vision device, a legacy piece of military equipment, was a binocular system designed to provide soldiers with enhanced vision in low-light conditions. The AN/PVS-7 features a 40-degree field of view and a detection range of up to 300 meters under optimal conditions, making it ideal for medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance tasks. Its automatic brightness control (ABC) adjusts the image brightness according to ambient light levels, ensuring optimal viewing without manual intervention. The device operates on two AA batteries, providing up to 40 hours of continuous use, which is essential for prolonged field missions. Constructed to withstand harsh environments, the AN/PVS-7 meets rigorous MIL-STD-810G standards for durability, with a waterproof housing that ensures reliable performance in extreme weather conditions. However being a single tube NVD with weight complications made the AN/PVS-14 a better choice for NVD upgrades around the world including India.
AN/PVS-14 – Co-developed and manufactured by L3Harris Technologies and Elbit Systems of America (the US division of Israel’s Elbit Systems), the AN/PVS-14 a Monocular Night Vision Device used in various tough militaries around the world including US, NATO allies and India too. It is considered as one of the best multi-functional night vision monocular available. It allows the operator to retain their night adapted vision in one eye while viewing their surrounding through the illuminated eyepiece of the PVS-14. One of the most prominent abilities this monocular comes with is the supreme compatibility with reflex sights and other aimers of ACOG, Aimpoint, EO Tech systems etc. all of which are used by various divisions of Indian Armed Forces. Selecting proper NVDs always meant to be able to be used both in various types of bulletproof helmets and other weapon accessories. It comes with IR illuminator, LED IR indicators, 40 degrees field of view, 50+ operational hours in one charge and 1x zoom.
The Indian military, particularly the Indian Army, is currently inadequately equipped with Night Vision Devices (NVDs). The NVDs available to Indian forces are outdated and insufficient in number. While the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy possess the capability to conduct operations at night, the Army’s ability to fight in low-light conditions is limited due to a lack of both quality and quantity in their NVDs. The Army requires at least Generation-3 night vision devices for the majority of frontline units and all special forces divisions. Presently, the Indian Army has a limited supply of second-generation devices, which are often more of a hindrance than an asset, and very few third-generation NVDs, which are issued only to special forces. Ideally, every regular army trooper should be equipped with an NVD. However, equipping even 50 percent of infantrymen with NVDs would significantly enhance the Army’s capabilities and be a game-changer. Currently, only one Gen-3 NVD is issued to one operator in every platoon of 4-6 operators, which is grossly inadequate. India primarily imports NVDs to meet its needs. In terms of domestic manufacturing, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is the largest supplier of night vision equipment to the Indian armed forces. In India, notable collaborations include BEL’s partnership with Photonis of France and Tata Power SED’s joint venture with Harder Digital of Germany. Photonis Night Vision is a global leader in the design and manufacture of image intensifiers and provided SUPERGEN-tube technology to BEL about five years ago. Tata Power SED’s partner, Harder Digital, acquired the Serbian image intensifier manufacturing company EiSova and is now known as Harder Digital Sova. This company produces a full range of image intensifier tubes, from Generation-1 to Generation-3, and exports to 30 countries worldwide. However BEL has been coming out as a standout performer in helmet mounted tech in their innovations.
How BEL has become an indigenous giant for helmet-mounted NVDs?
India heavily relies on imports to fulfil its Night Vision Device (NVD) requirements. But domestically, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is the primary supplier of NVDs to the Indian armed forces, with a current production capacity of 4,000 units per month. Over the past few years, BEL has secured approximately 80% of NVD orders from the Ministry of Defense. In 2008, BEL was exclusively contracted to deliver 32,766 NVDs to Indian paramilitary forces. This project involved a technology partnership with Israel’s Star Defence Systems and utilized French Photonis tubes. Subsequently, in 2013, BEL secured another contract for 30,634 NVDs to meet the Army’s demands. BEL is currently executing orders for 5,000 night vision sights and thermal imaging systems for various armored vehicles, including 1,780 for BMP-1, 1,200 for T-90, and 2,000 for T-72 tanks. In 2019, state-run Bharat Electronics Limited got inked in devising military-grade helmet-mounted NVDs, coloured day and night displays, 3D symbology, head tracking, sensors and weapon cuing as they got inked in a collaborative deal with Israel’s Elbit Systems, the manufacturer of AN-PVS 7s and 14s. Once initially entering the defence electronics space for the military pilots of Indian Air Force and aerial wing of Indian Navy, BEL has set its way to be a major player in Army too. In Feb 2022, BEL got the deal worth 1075 crores INR for retrofitting and modification of the commander sights of T90 tanks which are capable of thermal imaging targets upto 8 kms and a laser range finder accurate upto 5km for long range target acquisition. December 2023 marked a strategic milestone for the firm as Indian Army inked a deal worth 4522 crores INR followed by an additional 356 crores INR for BEL products including existing and upcoming Night Vision Goggles, NVD spares, Electronic Warfare Testers etc.
BEL’s Passive Night Vision Binocular, Passive Night Vision Monocular and Passive Night Vision Goggle products have been one of a kind indigenous products of the same genre of NVDs which are being used of foreign brands by the soldiers. While the previously mentioned three products are Image Intensifier Tube based NVDs, BEL also make the Thermal Imager for individual solider kits including the helmet mounted HHTI with LRF, Prahari, Uncooler Thermal Image Binocular, Digital Camera inclusive Spotter Scope and the PNVG. The Panoramic Night Vision Goggles is one of the latest products and has garnered massive attention due to the steps BEL has followed to make the indigenous variant of GPNVG-18, the costliest NVD right now in active military service globally, possessed by the US. The water-resistant BEL PNVG has a wide FOV of 97 degrees attached with a Gen2/3 tubes and are even cockpit compatible for classified platforms. In a span of 8 years, BEL has set up two factories in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh dedicated for manufacturing of Night Vision and Thermal Imaging products. In a bigger reveal amid the attention towards the PNVGs, Brazil has officially confirmed the purchase of the indigenous GPNVGs worth 5.6 crores INR.
How MKU is reshaping Indian military helmet technology?
Founded in 1989, MKU Limited is a private firm responsible for manufacturing ballistic helmets, armour, shields, optronics etc. and has become one of the biggest indigenous players catering to military of a global scale. Once a supplier of Fibre Reinforced Polymer helmets to the Indian Army during the Kargil War, MKU is now serving ballistic protection to the 3 million active and standby army force of India along with products serving across NATO countries and military platforms. The previously mentioned Mukut helmets are made by MKU which brought into existence their proprietary RHT (Reduced Helmet Trauma) and BABT (Behind Armour Blunt Trauma) technology that reduces incoming bullet impact and subsequent trauma by 30-40%. And the Mukut is just one of the simpler models. During Milipol Paris 2023 Exhibition in November 23, MKU unveiled its Kavro Doma 360 – claiming to be the world’s first ballistic helmet with uniform protection from the smallest of calibres to the big guns of AK, M80 NATO BALL and M193 bullets. It features a boltless surface thus increasing its ballistic protection efficiency. It has also become the only boltless rifle rated protection helmet and has seen major attention since the unveiling. MKU has bagged a recent deal worth 170-180 croes INR by MoD to manufacture and supply 1.59 ballistic helmets to the Indian Army. Moreover MKU has made out its entire Kavro series to cater different types of military-grade helmets with respect to demand and mission for both domestic and exports. ACH-115B, ACH-4, SCH-111T, ACH-126, ACH-7, MCH-125, ACH-125/126 etc. have been among their standout products. Neeraj Gupta, MKU’s Global Managing Director also mentioned that 70% of their revenue comes from exports, which is indeed a great milestone for an indigenous private firm.
Other notable proceedings in this realm
Thales and MKU Limited had announced in 2020 the co-development of ELFIE Night Vision Devices for the armed forces of India which would be compatible with existing helmet mounts on the MKU ACH, Mukuts and Team Wendy HiCut helmets. In April 2023, XTEK HighCom Armour Solutions had signed a collaboration agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited for the manufacturing of advanced Level III Rifle Combat Helmets (RCH) specifically for targeting Indian defence market in a bid to get AK-round-stopping bullets for the armed forces. MKU already utilizes their research facility in Germany to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous technological development. Apart from BEL, Ordnance Factory Board also engages in NVD manufacturing with their Dehradun factory taking part in the Image Intensifier Tube based Passive Night Vision Monocular helmet-mounted NVD. Tata Advanced Systems itself has portrayed variety of tested helmet-mounted NVDs and Thermal Imagers with their Rajak series. Namely Rajak I-122B-LI (Gen-III tube with 250m detection and 40+ hours battery endurance), Rajak I-122 (with similar specs), RAJAK TMU-USR (Day and Night Thermal Monocular with 100m range and 8hr+ endurance), RAJAK I-7D NVG (Gen III tube with 250m detection, 40+ hrs endurance) and RAJAK I-222B (Twin Tube NVG Binocular with Gen III tubes and 250m range) have been some standout products which aim for military tenders and RFPs from Ministry of Defence.
Our Special Forces Gear – Among the multiple SOF units of Indian Armed Forces, Navy’s MARCOS bear among the most cost-heavy battlefield gear due to their increased chance of overseas and maritime combat beyond borders and higher frequency of international multilateral exercises, which also mean for the forces to keep up with western and other peers in terms of tested equipment. In terms of headgear, an average MARCOS operator is cladded with a Safariland Liberator V Advanced Dual Comm Headset, TASL Maritime/Team Wendy’s HiCut Ballistic/ P2 viper helmet and TASL Rajak-I228 Gen-III tubed Binocular Night Vision Goggles. On the other hand, Garuds of the Indian Air Force utilize more varied equipment due to their range of operations scattering from deserts to jungles. On the lighter end, Patkas and MKU Mukut helmets are more commonly worn by them in during regular patrols, it changes to the P2 Vipers or HiCut Ballistic helmets during missions. No particular set of helmet mounted optronics are fixed for Garuds but recently they have been spotted with the 4-tube BEL GPNVGs. The all-round compatible MKU Multi Accessory Connector is used for the linkup of various attachments within the helmet. The elite counter-terrorism unit NSG are mostly seen wearing the MKU Ballistic helmet while Team Wendy HiCut also comes sometimes mixed in the foray. For NVDs and thermal imagery, they use BEL’s Gen-II dual-tube Passive Night Vision Goggles.
Also Read, Explained: The Evolution Of Military Helmets In The Indian Army
Can India’s helmets compete with the other superpowers?
The United States of America employs the Advanced Combat Helmet throughout the US Army which has been co-developed by ArmorSource, Gentex and our very own MKU. It has been the staple for the nation since the 2000s and performance wise, it is equivalent to India’s MKU Ballistic/HiCut Ballistic/P2 Viper but will beat the Patkas and Orlite OR-201s. US’ special operations command use the same Ops Core FAST helmet, the same one which is used by Indian SOFs too in the name of the TASL Maritime, under licensed production by Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Real time information of how different countries’ helmets perform against each other can be only found in actual war scenarios or recorded performance tests. MKU employs its proprietary helmet technology equally in the US ACH and India’s ballistic helmets. But Patkas lose in these head to head helmet battles due to their lack of ballistic protection in the sides. The widely available standard-issue Patkas and Model 1974 helmets also lose in the fact that they are not bolt-free which drastically lowers the ability to sustain volleys of fire and break down quicker than boltfree helmets. Unlike American counterparts where people can actually see how individually their equipment perform due to numerous ‘GunTubers’, China as usual remain in the veil of secrecy. However as much developments as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and Navy are seeing, the Army is not. PLA is the least invested division among the Chinese armed forces. In every platoon of 7 to 8 soldiers only 2-3 operators actually have access to helmet mounted NVD/thermal imagers and long-range rifle scopes. Chinese military footage is rare as it can get but from the widely popular Chinese army marches in specific occasions, numerous analysts have rightly pointed out that their helmets doesn’t even have the mounts for external attachments. Footage from ceremonies and marches although don’ represent the bigger scene, PLA is up for Herculean tasks if their own government keeps on neglecting the needs for individual soldier gear. And definitely China won’t be able to rule the night with this lack of equipment in specific special operation missions. Russia uses the Armokom 6B47 and NII Stali 6B7 standard ballistic helmets across the entire armed forces. The 6B47 is also being used in their Ratnik future infantry combat system. The 6B47 offers protection from .45 and 9mm pistol and SMG rounds and protection from blast fragmentation at a speed of upto 630 m/s. These helmets are coupled with 1PN139 thermographic monitor. However none of these two are boltless helmets and feature three bolts across the frontal circumference, which definitely arises questions how much it can sustain the structure amid incoming fire and protect the operator. But one of the most standout products and probably the most distinguishable helmet around in the world is the Russian Altyn helmet produced by NII Stali. Made more popular through mainstream media and video games like PUBG, this titanium helmet is one gigantic one and weighs 3.5-4 kg. It offers a complete facial protection and comes with a armoured visor. Not only from pistol and SMG rounds, the Altyn and its face-shield are capable of completely stopping Desert Eagle’s Magnum rounds, 5.45 PSM Full Metal Jacket rounds and 7.62TT rounds at a decent range. The Altyn is used by Russia’s FSB and its counter-terrorism personnel. The Altyn hasn’t seen official battlefield combat after the first and second Chechen wars (at least from open source information) but any other superpower is yet to make this type of heavy-protection helmet (and probably won’t because the structure and weight itself would be a major issue for movement of the operator).
Sidequest Alert: Indian Air Force aerial operators’ helmet tech
In terms of aerial platform equipment, helmet tech refers to the combination of the Helmet Mounted Display and attached gear used by the pilot/gunner of the particular aircraft. IAF’s Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs use the HUD-967 Series developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems. It comes with a 7-layer combination of LCDs, bi-cubic phase conjugated holographic displays and a larger monochrome display for air-to-surface missile guidance. It also comes with a tactical situation indicator and navigation module. Elbit’s 967HUD is a curated system specifically developed and upgraded for India’s Su-30 MKIs. The older SEPECAT Jaguars and Navy’s Mig-29Ks also use the same helmet-mounted displays but are a bit toned down, as instead of the 7 layers, it comes with 3 layers of the holographics and target acquisition displays. Next up, the Rafales, which comes with a HUD developed by Thales. It also has similar holographic displays and comes with additional touch-screen features for better human-computer interaction. The gear comes with state-of-the-art night vision, thermal imagers and complete integration for the MBDA MICA medium-range fire-and-forget missiles. The LCA Tejas is equipped with the DASH (Display and Sight Helmet System) once again developed by Elbit Systems. It operates on the principle similar to the gunner of a Apache helicopter where the pilot can aim their weapons just by looking at the target. It is a very efficient technology for close-range standoffs and dogfights. DASH measures the pilot’s Line of Sight relative to the aircraft and can transfer the information to other aircraft systems. Finally the most lethal attack helicopter of the world with its mind blowing combination of HUDs considering the time it was first developed being just a helo platform. It is equipped with the IHADSS (integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System) where either the pilot or the gunner can integrate the 30mm M230 chain gun underneath the cockpit with the operator’s helmet and fire wherever he looks. It is powered with the forward locking target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) which can locate upto 256 targets simultaneously upto 50km. A similar TADS has also been indigenously designed and equipped in the newer LCH Prachand.
