US military will receive energy mask, resembling Darth Vader's helmet

ECBC (Edgewood Biochemical Research Center of the United States Army) presented its new development - an energy mask, which is a combination of a respiratory mask and a helmet. This mask is able to protect the fighter from biological, chemical and radiation threats on the battlefield. At the same time, the appearance of the energy mask very much resembles the helmet of Darth Vader from the movie “Star Wars” or Master Chief from the popular computer game “Halo”. The mask uses built-in fans that are used to cool the face of a serviceman, as well as to maintain the integrity of the structure. It is reported that the novelty has already successfully passed the first tests, the military recognized it as quite effective and comfortable.

It is reported that the novelty is based on the commercial version of the filtering mask (gas mask) Avon M50, which is widely used in the American army. This gas mask is connected to a backpack or belt battery hidden in it, and the fans installed in the side parts of the mask blow air into its nose, so that the air flow during the exhalation of the fighter is constant. At that moment, when the soldier exhales, the valve closes and the air goes into the area around the eyes, creating an overpressure in the front. This prevents the contaminated atmosphere from getting inside the mask if the leak tightness of the energy mask has been broken.

It is reported that a division of the Edgewood Center for Biochemical Research, specializing in respiratory protection, has created and tested a novelty throughout the 2013 year. According to reports by the US military, this mask turned out to be more comfortable, with at least the same level of efficiency as the models used by the military at a given time. Currently, engineers are working to further improve their offspring. In particular, they plan to install sensors that will help determine when exactly it will be necessary to turn on the fans on the mask and where it will be necessary to direct the air flow.

M50 General Military Gas Mask

The new development, which reminded journalists of Darth Vader's helmet, is based on the very successful M50 general-purpose gas mask, created in the USA and passed the specification in the 2007 year. M50 has become smaller, lighter and more efficient than its predecessor. He is able to provide protection for a fighter for 24 hours, which is immediately in 2 times the previous model. Currently, this gas mask is produced only for the needs of the US Armed Forces, it is not exported. Marines based in the Hawaiian Islands and the Japanese island of Okinawa received the first development in 2010.

The front part, providing a high level of comfort and protection, was designed on the basis of protective materials and technologies of AVON Rubber. New photocell filters used in gas masks - filtering and absorbing elements - provide a very high level of protection against poisonous substances of common, skin-blistering, suffocating and neuroparalytic effects, as well as from some biological damaging agents, toxic chemicals, toxic and radioactive dust. In this case, the M50 was implemented integration with optical sights, communication systems, as well as other elements that are included in the combat kit soldier.

The spectacle unit of the gas mask М50 is made in the form of a single monoblock, which reduces the load on the eyes of the serviceman, and also maximally expands his field of view. The design of the gas mask makes it very convenient to combine it with helmet-mounted communications and an army helmet. A microphone can be installed inside the front, which allows for improved communication with a special insulated adapter that is connected from the outside.

Double low-profile FPE allowed to significantly reduce the resistance to breathing and improve the mass distribution of the gas mask, and the design of the sub-mask reduced the size of the “dead” space, and it also prevents the spectacle unit from misting over. In addition, the spectacle unit has increased mechanical strength and an improved system of protection from the sun's rays. The gas mask is equipped with a special device for safe fluid intake (the device has been improved). It ensures its compatibility not only with standard flasks, but also with camel-hump drinking systems. A number of design solutions implemented in the M50 gas mask significantly increased its safety during operation. CPE can be replaced by a soldier without violating the tightness of the shutter, which is achieved by a self-sealing connection.

Information sources:
http://gearmix.ru/archives/11679
http://www.mk.ru/science/2014/05/23/soldat-armii-ssha-vyiryadyat-v-energomasku-pohozhuyu-na-shlem-darta-veydera.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org

Comments

[inkass_98]

A good thing, comfortable, not comparable to our "elephants". I don't know about the filtration efficiency, but in terms of wearing comfort and visibility it is clearly better than our rubber with box filters. The term of use, however, is embarrassing - 24 hours of effective operation of the filters, somehow I can't believe it.

[koosss]

progress on the face

[the47th]

And we had PBF, or "hamsters" - very comfortable. If the word "convenience" applies to a gas mask.
[img] [center]Hamster

[Aryan]

in theory if the diver in a wetsuit
then it should float due to this "overpressure"
not?

[Wolland]

Quote: inkass_98

A good thing, comfortable, not comparable to our "elephants". I don't know about the filtration efficiency, but in terms of wearing comfort and visibility it is clearly better than our rubber with box filters. The term of use, however, is embarrassing - 24 hours of effective operation of the filters, somehow I can't believe it.

Here I do not agree, since the elephants have everything tight and tight, removed with a pretty effort, otherwise you’ll look at this horseradish mask, it will fall ...

[Bayonet]

Maybe you should try before you cry?

[PAM]

The elephant is good in many ways (price, reliability, tightness (if in size and according to the instructions)), but the consent is outdated in terms of the materials used, convenience and comfort. The elephant fogs up, the visibility is bad, it doesn’t allow the possibility of using night vision systems and it’s hard to breathe in it about working in it for 24 hours, I’m silent for a long time, you won’t drink water from the flask. Need a change!

[Saratovets]

The main convenience

[Dragon-y]

If the eyes are constantly "blowing" - you can get dry cornea and / or conjunctivitis ...

[Alexey Prikazchikov]

Well, the engineer is so stupid that they didn’t think about it. Stop thinking finally that our VKP is the most. You just can imagine how the elimination form is tested hard and how much they find fault. The Americans are more vicious and boring people still need to look.

[chunga-changa]

It seems like a chemical weapon is almost destroyed. What are they preparing for?

[Bayonet]

Nobody canceled our gas masks either. Not necessarily from OM - with smoke, gas contamination.

[Klim2011]

Issued in Okinawa and Hawaii. Buy and Learn.

[Aleksandr12]

Interesting thing. The soldiers will look like some sort of space marines)))

[koosss]

everything goes to this, it’s time to have a thread like this:

[timer]

Yes, if our kulibins create something similar, it will be cool. I think it will be ours on the shoulder.

[ramin_serg]

It seems that there was an article about this helmet. But the thing is very necessary especially to the assault squads

[Yves762]

Soon the soldier will be the cheapest on the battlefield ....

[Intsurfer]

this is how "Batman" began: the main character found a suit that the military rejected - they say, it is cheaper to recruit more soldiers for 3 million. :)

[Maksim...]

He was always the cheapest ...

[cdrt]

Quote: Maxim ...

He was always the cheapest ...

The growth of investments in training and equipment your words do not confirm

[Maksim...]

So he always was cheap, but not one now ...

[PAM]

depending on whom the word soldier means, if a rookie is the cheapest for China, there’s a lot of them and you won’t notice the loss of several tens of thousands , and if a state with an aging population, then every new recruit is expensive. And if a soldier is understood as a trained specialist, then it is very expensive, not only do they need to be selected and a large number of recruits (not everyone is fit for service and pull the strap of a military man), but also to train and, moreover, constantly keep him in shape so that as a pioneer he was “always ready” to rush into battle and cope with the task.

[lexx2038]

A helmet "I don't see anything, I don't hear anything" how to fight in it if I saw a corpse half a second later? But the Papuans scare the most. On the other hand, you have to start somewhere, the first planes were so funny, but right now - beauty.

[Dry_T-50]

The world went to the roof with this Vader (Ukraine first, then the United States)

[kav669]

I think a convenient and efficient device

[Mikhail3]

Where will we fight, on Ypres, chtoli? I do not remember among the primary threats of a modern war a chemical threat. Apart from the probable sending of American troops by hundreds of thousands of people to the front of the First World War, why is this at all? Personal air conditioning? Ingenious. From the charging station, their soldiers will be able to move even less ...
In general, everything is the same - they are going to fight with short raids, no more than ten hours, after which a long recharge and replacement of consumables at the base. Most of all, this method is suitable for war with cave aborigines somewhere on the Tau Ceti, working with protected bases and strongest perimeters. Well or not on the Tau Ceti ...
In general, this is not preparation for a modern war, but for a completely alternative one, as if the Americans knew something that the rest of the world did not know. Well, or simply - a massive purchase of stainless sabers for underwater cavalry, with the goal of another pocket amendment ...

[Alexandr 2]

Americans love to fight an already defeated and demoralized adversary. And they need an energy mask to move around the territory of the enemy defeated by their chemical weapons.

[Bayonet]

If you smoke or get gas through a pissed footcloth, breathe?

[Shadowcat]

I'm more interested in how and what they did with the scourge of all masks - fogging when breathing.

[alex86]

So judging by the text, there is a blowing in the eye area - I think, just for this.

[alex-cn]

Once there is a purge, you can not worry about fogging

[zulusuluz]

Battery for gas mask, for night vision devices, for a knife (?), For boots, .... total - 250 kg and 3 minutes of work.

[corporal]

I remember in the distant 90th in the ZabVO, one of our officers wore a West German model with such large glasses (where he got it), so he said that he would exchange horseradish for a domestic "rubber band". They can really be more convenient. If so, then a big minus to our engineers, who think that our soldier will endure everything (or kind of pamper them so they don't relax)

[adept666]

But did this officer use this device in the coverage area, say, not carbon monoxide, but sarin or heptyl?

[luiswoo]

Quote: Corporal

I remember in the distant 90th in the ZabVO, one of our officers wore a West German model with such large glasses (where he got it), so he said that he would exchange horseradish for a domestic "rubber band". They can really be more convenient. If so,then a big minus to our engineerswho think that our soldier will endure everything (or like neher to spoil them, so as not to relax)

What do engineers have to do with it? MRP-88:

Didn't show up yesterday. Whoever orders the music ... orders the "elephants", not the "panorama", as a cheaper option - nothing to do with the engineers.

[Wolland]

Quote: Alexander12

Interesting thing. The soldiers will look like some sort of space marines)))

Yes, it’s cool, soon the Jedi swords of different colors will probably be distributed as opposed to our AK-47 ...... oh and America, they arranged a clownfish.

[corporal]

Quote: adept666

But did this officer use this device in the coverage area, say, not carbon monoxide, but sarin or heptyl?

Zarin did not water us, but the nachkhim drove everyone through a closed barn with some kind of smoke garbage from which some clever men (who pulled the non-return valve) then vomited, and that officer did not complain about his device.

[Bayonet]

There was such a show, the impression is not forgotten!

[Massik]

It is interesting due to what the tightness in the neck area is achieved, because the mask is quite rigid in it, you first need to stick your head in.

He is able to provide fighter protection for 24 hours,

Is it in a dangerous environment? In the field, the replacement of the filter element is possible with

self-sealing compound

rd

[flSergius]

I believe that a full-face mask without a full-fledged combat suit / suit / exoskeleton is very uncomfortable. If there isn’t a whole complex thought out to the smallest detail that supports the vital activity of a soldier, a kind of wearable at home with a kitchen and a warehouse arsenal, then the equipment should be modular - I wanted to - took off my glasses, left my helmet and respirator, wanted to - stayed in only my pants and headphones. You never know what situations happen.

[Mama_Cholli]

Good device. All soldiers mattresses can consider themselves the guides of the star of death of Lucas.
Only if there is already nothing to come up with, comics can be used, where is their superman in his underpants walking / flying over his pants. It is possible according to this principle, they can come up with an unloading for their soldiers, put something back in these underpants, well, and right away they can get a valve there for convenience, especially since there are more and more doves in their army.

[Shont]

+1 Thank you, in a couple of sentences they expressed all my gamut of feelings. Corresponding like, real like while reputation does not allow.

[wolfhunter2035]

the helmet is cool, but I won’t say anything about the functionality, I didn’t wear it, I won’t say it, but don’t forget that we also have some worthwhile developments. And what difference does it make to us, in what gas mask will the enemy die?

[corporal]

Quote: hanter2035

And what difference does it make to us, in what gas mask will the enemy die?

The statement is incorrect, the question should sound differently - in what gas mask our soldiers will fight, and how much better will they be able to control the battlefield in our "products" in comparison with "opponents"

[Gayver]

The main thing is not what kind of gas mask, but with what speed a fighter will wear it! And I deeply doubt that the American fights, even this one will have time to wear before our soldiers!

[Was mammoth]

And to put on a gas mask weakly with one hand in a little more than 2 seconds from a camping trip? We did such a trick.

[cutsolia]

I wonder how fast they put on this "beautiful pan"

[Pilot]

Cool helmets!) Beautiful along the way comfortable!) Only here 24 hours! ...

[Fedman]

For an ordinary soldier, a gas mask is a piece that he just needs "just in case." Therefore, it should be simple, cheap and compact.
And this helmet, firstly, requires constant maintenance so that the battery does not run out, which will blow air there, secondly, it is clearly not cheap, thirdly, it is not clear where to wear it and whether it is disconnected from the helmet at all.
Therefore, IMHO, it is stupid to compare "elephants" and this horror for the devil knows how many dollars.

[Geokingxnumx]

The dark side is your testament!

[Corsican]

24 hours? That is, a fighter shouldn’t shoot him at all? And sleep and eat? If gas attacks are not expected, then why? The only explanation in my opinion is a helmet for units attacking in a gas cloud. An adversary without protective equipment is destroyed or at least demoralized. And protected by the Soviet-era SIZs, it loses much in combat efficiency.

[FAO_48E]

Quote: koosss

everything goes to this, it’s time to have a thread like this:

That is what DARPA is doing. They have a program there for creating a hybrid of an exoskeleton and a set of individual armor protection (so far, however, at the level of a conceptual prototype).

[dld35057]

suit-genetic engineering. A temporary symbiosis of a person and a chimera. With instantly changing properties in the right situation. And bronik and chemical protection and masking, etc.

[Alex1977RUS]

Quote: Mikhail3

Where will we fight, on Ypres, chtoli? I do not remember among the primary threats of a modern war a chemical threat. Apart from the probable sending of American troops by hundreds of thousands of people to the front of the First World War, why is this at all? Personal air conditioning? Ingenious. From the charging station, their soldiers will be able to move even less ...

Lumbar, or backpacked batteries ...
There are clearly two motors, 1,2 volts, most likely, like coolers in computers that will work for more than one day from any malomalski decent battery, and this is even without mentioning that the blower may not work all the time, but turn on with a button.
And given the specifics of use, (this is a gas mask after all, and gas masks are used in the case of the use of weapons of mass destruction, and this with a probability close to 100% means a cheerful full-sized military conflict (we recall the life of a motorized infantry in combined arms combat)) there is an opinion that the soldier himself run out sooner than batteries in a gas mask.