Why does FAST cut the ear?

FAST is the first to address the location of the communication system, this is the source of demand for FAST helmets cut ear protection. But this is not unique to the design of FAST, before FAST, many manufacturers have made various attempts to this goal, including cutting the helmet shell.

The earliest military helmets were pure anti-breakage helmets, with no accessories whatsoever, and soldiers had no other equipment on their heads besides their helmets. But with the sophistication of warfare technology, a second piece of head equipment for soldiers emerged, the communication headset.

Of course the earliest qualified to use the headset such high-tech equipment are tank crew such high-tech soldiers, but the tank crew's helmet is mainly anti-collision, so the headset can do with the helmet, there is no helmet and headset compatibility issues.

When the crew out of the cabin, on the big dog hat buckle a M1 outer helmet bulletproof. The good thing is that the early communication headset is very small, and the big dog cap is one, and the helmet interference is not big.

With the development of headset technology and sound insulation needs to increase the volume of the headset is getting bigger and bigger, this time the helmet has been unable to put the headset, then the most direct way is to increase the volume of the internal sides of the helmet.

Another solution to helmet and headset compatibility is more brutal, since it is in the way, cut off this piece can be, such as the U.S. Air Force's M3 bomber helmet. M3 hollowed out both sides to install the headset, while in order to this piece in order to retain the ability to protect, there is a large cover outside can be lifted, like a raked dog.

U.S. T19E1 tank experimental helmet, cut ear solution is a very good choice when the level of danger is not high and can sacrifice a certain area of protection, the U.S. Army now armored vehicles members helmets are also cut ear.
U.S. DH132A tank helmet, double-layer split, cut-ear bulletproof helmet body. The inner soft helmet and communication system is integrated and acts as a suspension for the outer helmet. It can be seen by cutting the ears to be compatible with the large headset before, just not applied to the infantry helmet.
With the PASGT helmet is installed, the new helmet has a matching headset, in order to be compatible with the headset ear contour extended outward, while the headset in order to be compatible with the helmet, the upper part of the headset is also made ultra-thin. This is also headphones and helmets compatible with the attempt, although not a success, but to the subsequent MICH development trip.

MICH was originally designed for special forces, and special forces are the most with communication equipment, so take full account of the need for headset compatibility, the same matching COMTAC in order to be compatible with helmets as thin, but because of the need to pick up the noise reduction technology, can not be as thin as the P helmet era, so we see MICH ear outward drift than the P helmet to be more obvious.

However, in order to be compatible with other headphones, perhaps for later preparation, MICH also have cut ear MICH2001 type. The headset and helmet compatibility program has been so oscillating between ear-cutting and ear-contouring to increase the outer drift.Compared to special forces, mobility and skills are often more important than protection, for them the FAST ear cut is clearly the best choice, and can objectively reduce weight.

Before the FAST, there was an IBH helmet in the special forces fleeting. . It is a helmet developed by ILC Dover and USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command), which is compatible with large headsets and uses four-point suspension for more stable use of night vision devices. However, all of the IBH's accessories were not modularly mounted, so it quickly fell into disrepute after the FAST appeared. Therefore, the FAST helmet from the beginning is for special forces with a large number of communications equipment, for ordinary soldiers without communication needs, full protection of the traditional helmet is the optimal choice, the U.S. Army to the general troops of the next generation of manned helmet is still full protection also shows this point.