Famed Marine General and Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis once famously told his Marines that, “the most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.” He would then go on to clarify to his Marines that “you are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.” When it comes to protecting the most important six inches on the battlefield or the street, the Striker Rifle Combat Helmet (RCH) is like Fort Knox for the brain.
We’ll get into some specifics in a minute, but as for now, let’s just agree that protecting the brain in a fight is a fairly high priority. Soldiers who have taken a round to the head and walked away with nothing more than a headache often describe the feeling as being born again. It’s a sense of euphoria knowing that you should be dead, but are now alive. So, let’s break down just how one becomes born again on the battlefield.
The Science Of Ballistics In Action
The Striker RCH (Rifle Combat Helmet) is a true rifle-rated helmet in every sense of the word. It is capable of defeating rifle special threats, including the 7.62 x 51mm (M80) and 5.56 x 46mm (M19s FMJ), as well as MIL-STD frag protection beyond any protective helmet currently in theatre. So, unless you plan on taking one to the head from Ma Deuce .50 cal; your brain is pretty much covered in a fight. The Striker RCH exceeds the U.S. military specification for ballistic threats, fragmentation, and blunt impact. The Striker RCH is an ACH/ECH shaped helmet, compatible with all ACH/ECH accessories and is available in three cuts, standard cut (Striker RCH™), mid cut (Striker RCHMC™), and high cut (Striker RCHHC™).
We didn’t arrive at this design by happenstance. It’s a product that was born because extensive data and rigorous testing got together and had a helmet baby. If you’ve got a better helmet to protect the most important six inches on the battlefield, then we’d love to see that alien tech as well. Yes, we recognize that it is our most expensive helmet that we offer, and we do make cheaper helmets that offer less protection as we understand that such a thing as budgets exist. However, we want to explain a little about the “why” that motivated us to produce such a dependable helmet.
Why Keeping Your Head In The Fight Is So Important To Us
Thanks to amazing government procurement specialists who step up to give the best protection, we understand that on any given night through the dark corners of the Earth, there are special operators wearing our gear. We know full well that law enforcement officers who kiss their kids goodbye in the morning will be relying on our products in order to tuck those same kids in bed that evening.
You see, though there are profits to be made in other aspects of this industry, we just wanted to be really good at the one thing that mattered most. We want to make sure that if we have anything to say about it, that everyone comes home. If we could end crime and bring about world peace, we’d give that try first. However, since we think our ability to do so significantly lags behind our ability to offer first-class protection, we’ll stick to what we know and what we do best.
Keeping your head in the fight is so important to us because we understand that within those heads are songs sung to their children, stories read at bedtime, and sweet nothings whispered into the ear of the one you love most. Keeping your head in the fight is important because we know that you are much more than the uniform, and for those who protect us every day, you deserve to come home at the end of the watch and live your very best life. If there is anything we can do to better protect and serve you, please do not hesitate to reach out.
A true rifle-rated combat helmet – the RCH has been tested for the following threats:
Level III+ Rifle Threats
| PROJECTILE | GR | VEL FT/S | VEL M/S | (+/- FT/S) | (+/- M/S) |
| 7.62 x 51mm FMJ, steel jacketed bullets (M80) | 147 | 2750 | 838 | (+/- 50 fps) | (+/- 15 fps) |
| 7.62 x 39mm (M43 MSC PS) | 123 | 2350 | 716 | (+/- 30 fps) | (+/- 9 fps) |
| 5.56 x 45mm M193 FMJ | 55 | 3250 | 991 | (+/- 30 fps) | (+/- 9 fps) |
MIL-STD 662F Frag Threats
| PROJECTILE | GR | VEL FT/S | VEL M/S | V50 FT/S | V50 M/S |
| US MIL-STD Frag 2 gr. RCC | 2 | 4200 | 1280 | >5391 | 1643 |
| US MIL-STD Frag 4 gr. RCC | 4 | 3475 | 1059 | >5163 | 1574 |
| US MIL-STD Frag 16 gr. RCC | 16 | 2475 | 754 | 4074 | 1242 |
| US MIL-STD Frag 64 gr. RCC | 64 | 1750 | 533 | 2852 | 869 |
| US MIL-STD Frag 17 gr. FSP | 17 | 2200 | 671 | 4182 | 1275 |
| US MIL-STD Frag 44 gr. FSP | 44 | 1750 | 533 | 3177 | 969 |
Want to learn more?
For more information on HighCom’s Rifle Combat Helmet (RCH), please contact us or visit our dealer locator page to purchase from one of our partners.
- View RCH | Rifle Combat Helmet Catalog
- Download RCH Spec Sheet
- Download RCHMC Spec Sheet
- Download RCHHC Spec Sheet
If you are interested in selling HighCom Armor products or in becoming an exclusive member of our Partner Network, please submit your request on our Contact Us page or email [email protected].