What is ballistic protective clothing?

Steel helmet is used by the solders as combat helmet from ancient time. It protects head from any high velocity metal fragments, bullets and any other form of blow. The helmets were made from hardened steel with an inner liner and total weight varies from 0.5 to 1.8 kg. In 1984 Britain replaced steel helmet by nylon helmet for general services. From para-aramid composite they also developed special helmet for tank crews, bomb disposal team and special forces. U.S Army in 1974 developed a lighter and more protective helmet using aramid fibre kevler, which replaced the old steel pot helmet.35 It is one piece structure composed of multiple layers of kevler 29 ballistic fabric and phenol formaldehyde ( PF ) and polyvinyl butral ( PVB ) resin. Since then various types of aramid fibres are used for the manufacture of ballistic helmets. Inside the shell of ballistic helmet a combination of high quality material such as leather, polyester fabric, nylon webbing, PP webbing, etc. is used. Ballistic helmets are produced from different sizes, ranging from extra small, small, medium, large and extra large. The head represents approximately 9 % of the body area but receives approximately 20 % of all hits. Necessity of protecting head from any ballistic hit is not necessary to explain. Helmet design is a complex issue. The factors to be considered by helmet designers are weight, ballistic quality of raw material to be used, balance, comfort, vision, hearing, equipment and weapon compatibility, ease of use, durability, easy of decontamination and cost. To evaluate ballistic impact on helmet, helmet penetration and helmet deformation test is carried out. Helmets are rigidly mounted on head form at a distance of 5 meter from the nozzle of a gun. Then the effect of projectile / bullet is observed and recorded. In a combat situation :

*Wearing ballistic helmet can reduce casualities up to 19 % 

*Wearing body armour alone can reduce casualities up to 40 % 

*Wearing body armour and ballistic helmet reduce up to 65 % 

The main ballistic threats to military personnel are fragmenting projectiles rather than bullets. The fragmenting projectiles originate from granades, mortars, artillery shells, mines and explosive devices. The other threats are bullets from hand gun, rifle, and machine guns. Ballistic casualities in general war including world war –II, Korea, Vietnam , Israil and falklands were recorded as < 

Casualities from projectile fragments 59 % 

Casualities from bullets 19 %

 Casualities from other causes 22 %