Enhanced Combat Helmet ( United States ) The Enhanced Combat Helmet ( ECH ) is a United States Marine Corps program to replace the combat helmets of the U . S . Army , Navy , and Marines using thermoplastics instead of the ballistic fibers used on the current generation combat helmets . Design . The ECH ’ s profile is very similar to the Advanced Combat Helmet but is thicker . The helmet ’ s shell is made of an ultra - high - molecular - weight polyethylene material . It must protect 35 % better against small - arms fire and fragmentation than the Advanced Combat Helmet . The helmet is required to protect against certain rifle projectiles . The helmet is of the “ tactical cut ” type and thus offers less coverage but does enable better mobility . The helmet will be compatible with camouflage fabric helmet covers . The replacement of the Advanced Combat Helmet with the Enhanced Combat Helmet has been likened to the transition from the Humvee to the MRAP . The helmet has been shown nearly impenetrable to fragments fired by test guns . In a v50 test , guns were unable to attain the velocity required to get 50 % of the fragments through a helmet . The helmet has vastly exceeded the 35 % ballistic improvement requirement . The helmet ' s design allows for the addition of devices such as communications and night - vision equipment . The Army is planning on using the existing pads used on the Advanced Combat Helmet for the ECH . A single pad that cushions the entire helmet may be developed . The ECH has a 4 - point chinstrap / napestrap head retention system . The Marine / Navy and Army variants are differentiated in that the Marine / Navy version uses an X - Back retention system ( called the Class I ) and the Army uses the H - Back retention system ( called the Class II ) . Development . ECH development began in 2007 . Solicitations were accepted in late April until early June 2009 . In July , more than $ 8 million was awarded to four vendors for five helmet designs in July 2009 . Mine Safety Appliances was awarded $ 4 . 7 million , Gentex was awarded $ 1 . 8 million , BAE Systems Aerospace & Defense Group Inc . was awarded $ 764 , 000 , and Ceradyne was awarded $ 729 , 000 . Testing in September revealed that each helmet failed in ballistic and / or blunt force tests . In February 2010 the Navy joined the program and issued their own requirements . Marine Corps officials suggested design improvements such as better materials to industry and testing resumed in June 2010 . Three vendors were to be downselected and the remaining two would be tested in November . If the program proceeded as planned the Army would acquire 200 , 000 , the Marine Corps would acquire 38 , 500 , and the Navy would acquire 6 , 700 . Ceradyne won the competition to produce the Enhanced Combat Helmet in March 2012 . On 16 July 2013 , the Marine Corps ordered 3 , 850 helmets for deployed Marines , to be fielded before the end of 2013 . The Marine Corps plans to buy 77 , 000 helmets , enough to outfit a large contingent of deployed Marines . When they return , they will be turned in . The Lightweight Helmet and Modular Integrated Communications Helmet will still be used for training and noncombat purposes . PEO Soldier also confirmed that the Army will field the helmet . Fielding will begin after the start of FY 2014 on 1 October 2013 .