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| This combination of images provided by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement shows two views of the new helmet developed jointly by Hyosung and Kyungchang Industry. Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
South Korea's military will start using more advanced helmets later this year after more than five years of work on the development project, according to the state defense agency Wednesday.
The new lightweight helmet is the outcome of a joint project launched by two Korean firms ― Hyosung and Kyungchang Industry ― to enhance the survivability and mobility of troops on the battlefield.
The Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, which has led the project since 2017, said the helmet is capable of protecting its wearers from 9- millimeter pistol bullets and other similar weapons. Moreover, its bulletproof capability remains intact at both high and low temperatures, or even when submerged underwater.
Aramid, a class of resilient and heat-resistant synthetic fibers, was developed as a material for the new military helmet by Hyosung ― the first such case in Korea ― and the material can be used to develop non-military products such as firefighting gear, the agency said.
"Overall, the new helmets have capabilities comparable to those developed in developed countries, including the United States," the agency's PR official told The Korea Times. "They are lighter, more durable and more convenient for our soldiers."
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