SPECTRA helmet The SPECTRA helmet or CGF Gallet Combat Helmet is the ballistic helmet currently in use in the French military , as well as in the armies of several other countries . Built by CGF Gallet ( the producer of the F1 helmet for firemen ) , it weighs , is available in two sizes , and is made from Spectra fibers , produced under license from Honeywell . The SPECTRA helmet is capable of stopping shell fragment s of travelling at 680 m / s ( 2 , 230 ft / s ) , an 80 % improvement over the Modèle 1978 helmet it replaces . History . The SPECTRA helmet is the result of 1990 studies intended to design the helmet for the French Army of the 2000s . In 1992 , the conflict in ex - Yugoslavia put large numbers of French blue helmets in contact with well - trained and well - equipped opponents , especially sniper s during the Siege of Sarajevo , where heavier protection than the Modèle 1978 helmet was proved necessary . The Army requested an emergency study for the new helmet , and tests were made , which selected the Dyneema fiber . Gallet drafted a model based on the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops ( PASGT or " Fritz " ) helmet used by the United States Army , and produced a first series of 5 , 000 which was immediately made available to the Blue Helmets in the former Yugoslavia . These first models were blue in the mass . Later models used the NATO green colour . They gradually equipped all French troops , with a priority given to the units on missions in foreign territories . Description . The helmet is made of Spectra fibre . It is not bulletproof . It is a fragmentation - resistant helmet and has a maximum distortion ( loss of shape ) of 20 mm from a 9mm FMJ ( Full Metal Jacket ) bullet of 8 g ( 124 gr ) travelling between 390 and 420 m / s on impact . It has a resistance to fragments in accordance with NATO Standardised Regulation ( " STANAG " ) 2920 , V50 mini , which is 640 m / s . Resistance to shock - impact in accordance with the EN397 standard , which is a protection standard for industrial helmets . The helmet can be worn with earmuff s and an individual radio system . Further equipment , like night vision , can be added ; the new infantry combat equipment of the French army , the Félin system , is partly based on development of the SPECTRA helmet . Models . Official designation of " CGF Gallet " is Série 8320 casque de combat TC " D " and they are made in three size ; The " V " is for French " " vert " " ( Green ) . " M " , " L " , " XL " is the size . The helmet is also available without the visor , as to facilitate the use of night vision equipment , and with added protection for law enforcement . Size . The official designations " M " , " L " and " XL " are usually called Small , Medium and Large in Denmark . Head diameter is ; Variants . Danish use . In Denmark it is designated as " Helmet , M / 96 , green " . In the early 1990s the Danish army began looking for a replacement to the old US M1 helmet designated M / 46 Steel helmet , which had been the standard helmet in Denmark since World War 2 . The M / 96 helmet may be completely phased out very soon in favour of a version of the Gentex ACH . Helmet covers . The removable helmet cover allows to change the pattern of the camouflage . For instance , the Danish army uses three different covers : Canadian Variant . The Canadian Forces adopted the SPECTRA with a few modifications . The CG634 Helmet was introduced in 1997 replacing the old M1 Helmet . The CF trialled the US Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops in 1990s before adopting the French version . The Canadian version is made by Barrday of Ontario ( trial versions ) and GSI ( Gallet Sécurité Internationale ) in Saint - Romuald , Quebec .