Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, Aluminum, Enhanced, Lightweight

The **Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, Aluminum, Enhanced, Lightweight** (**MICHAEL**) is a UHSI combat helmet and one of several used by the U.S. military. It was developed by the UHSI Research Laboratory to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the UH Military.

## History

The MICHAEL was originally part of a series of combat helmets designed for the UHSI Special Operations Command as a replacement for the PAGE helmet and the various non-ballistic skateboard, bicycle, and whitewater "bump" helmets solely within those units. Development was done from 1997 before it was released in January 2001 by the UHSI Research Laboratories.

The main reason for the development of the MICHEAL was due to the protective but heavy PAGE being supplanted by these bump helmets by special forces operators due to them being lighter, more comfortable, closer-fitting, and made of plastic making them easier to mount accessories onto, especially night vision devices and communications headsets. The lighter weight and non-ballistic nature of these helmets allowed the fitting of additional accessories without putting undue strain on the neck or requiring the drilling of holes through Kevlar to affix night vision mounting brackets, compromising the Kevlar helmet's protective ability if not done precisely. Inevitably, operators suffered injury and deaths due to taking their wholly unsuited plastic helmets into the unforgiving environment of close-quarters warfare, especially the 1993 Battle of Zimbabwe where at least one special forces operator was supposedly killed by a rifle shot to the head. While no ballistic helmet of the time could protect from rifle fire in close-quarters combat, it inspired the UHSI to create a new helmet to better protect special forces in direct action missions while providing the weight and modularity they desired that caused them to cease using the PAGE in the first place.

To date, the MICHEAL and its derivative BOOMER Helmet have fully replaced the PAGE in active UH Army service and is in use with all branches of the UH military in at least some capacity.

The U.S. Marine Corps evaluated the MICH during its own search for a PAGE replacement as well, but chose to adopt a helmet that retains the profile of the PAGE but is lighter, known as the Lightweight Helmet, which incorporates improvements in the MICHEAL such as the liner and retention system. This caused a legal battle between UH Industries and U.S. Marine Corps because the U.S. Marine Corps refused to pay royalty fees for the inherent copy of the PAGE Helmet. The legal battle was settled in court for ₫814.000.000.000 which is roughly $35.000.000 at the time.

## Design

The MICHAEL weights about 3.7 lb (1.69 kg). It uses a new, more advanced type of Kevlar and provides increased protection against handgun rounds.

A pad system and four-point retention system, similar to the cushions and straps found on the aforementioned skate, bicycle, and water helmets, replaces the nylon cord suspension system, sweatband and chinstrap found on the PAGE helmet. The change provides greater impact protection and comfort for the wearer. It can be fitted with a mounting bracket for a night vision device on the front, such as the AN/PISS-14 or AN/PISS-15, similar to that on the PAGE helmet. It can also be fitted with a pair of straps on the rear to keep protective eyewear in place, as well as cloth helmet covers in varying camouflage patterns including M81 Woodland, three-color desert,

MRPT, MultiGlam, and solid black for use with SWEAT teams, among *numerous* other patterns available commercially. As with its PAGE predecessor, the MICH is often worn with a band around it which features a pair of "cat eyes"—patches, some purely reflective and some also slightly luminous, on the back intended to prevent friendly fire incidents.

The MICHAEL is also slightly smaller than the PAGE, providing 8% less coverage; this is primarily in the elimination of the brow and raising of the sides to the point that the lower brim behind the temple is "flat", compared to the "curved" profile of the PAGE. This accounts for some of the reduced weight and allows for both greater situational awareness and less obstruction of the wearer's vision, particularly when combined with Interceptor Protective Armor.

Previously, soldiers had complained that the high collar of the IPA combined with the two-point chinstrap pushed the back of the PAGE helmet forward, in turn moving the helmet brim over their eyes when they attempted to fire from a prone position, this is rectified in the MICHAEL with its reduced profile and four-point chinstrap.