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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASAThe Rotarywing Advanced Tactical Helmet was on display at APSCON 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The post VNE Aero’s RATH rethinks the traditional helicopter helmet appeared first on Vertical Mag.
VNE Aero, a division of Final Forge, has introduced its Rotarywing Advanced Tactical Helmet (RATH) that looks more like something worn by a SWAT operator than a helicopter pilot. Beneath that minimalist profile, however, is a purpose-built aviation helmet designed to deliver the impact protection of a conventional flight helmet while reducing the weight, bulk, and restricted visibility that aircrews have accepted for decades.
Displayed at APSCON 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the RATH was originally developed in response to a requirement from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which sought to reduce the neck and back injuries associated with prolonged use of traditional flight helmets.
“The requirement we received was to build something with that level of protection, but that had a wider field of view, was lighter, had better hearing protection, and solved all these problems,” VNE Aero program manager Tony Mullinax told Vertical Valor Plus. “This was the answer to that question.”
According to VNE Aero, the RATH provides an average weight reduction of 24% and a 9% increase in side-to-side visibility compared with the legacy HGU-56P. It meets or exceeds U.S. Army FNS/PD 96-18 requirements and is manufactured in six distinct shell sizes rather than using additional padding to adapt a larger shell to smaller heads.
The helmet combines a ventilated carbon-fiber shell with Dyneema reinforcement for penetration protection. Inside, a Koroyd honeycomb liner manages impact forces while permitting airflow through the helmet, helping reduce heat during operations. “You get an extremely lightweight helmet that allows air to flow through, so you get some cooling,” Mullinax said. “It is a really great piece of engineering.”
Its fit is controlled through an adjustable dial-retention system similar to those used in modern tactical helmets. Mullinax said the secure fit allowed him to operate night-vision goggles without the heavy rear counterweights commonly used to balance aviation helmets.
“I could take my counterweights off of my battery pack on my NVGs because the helmet fit well enough that I didn’t need that extra weight to keep it from falling,” he said.
The communications headset is separate from the shell and can be sized independently or removed for standalone use. When installed, the headset becomes part of the helmet’s impact-protection system. Gel ear seals provide significant passive noise reduction without relying solely on battery-powered active noise reduction. The headset also incorporates external microphones and an electronic hear-through function. This allows pilots and crewmembers to communicate with ground personnel, rescue patients or others outside the aircraft without removing the helmet or shouting over surrounding noise.
Additional features include accessory rails, a quick-release ANVIS night-vision mount and interchangeable ballistic visors that can be swapped without tools. Options include a photochromic visor, laser-protective lenses, sealed goggles, a removable face shield and a ballistic applique for protection against small-arms fire and fragmentation.
“The one that is supposed to save you in the 0.1-percent incident was slowly ending everyone’s career,” Mullinax said of older helmet designs. “It was competing demands, and this helmet was built to solve both.” A standard pilot configuration, including the integrated communications headset, is priced at approximately $4,800 and is currently available from VNE Aero.
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