The KH-B2000,[1] originally known as New Type Bangtan Helmet (Korean: 신형 방탄 헬멧; Bangtan is Korean for "anti-ballistic" or "bulletproof"), is a combat helmet developed by South Korea from 1997 to 2003. The helmet is made with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which increased the protection capability by more than two times compared to older Bangtan Helmet while achieving weight of only 1,150 g.[2][3]
| KH-B2000 New Type Bangtan Helmet | |
|---|---|
| Type | Combat helmet |
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Silver Star Company Oriental Industry |
| Designed | 1997–2003 |
| Manufacturer | Silver Star Company Oriental Industry (2003–2006) Samyang Company (2006–2008) Samyang Comtech (2008–present) |
| Produced | 2-point strap: 2003–2013 4-point strap: 2013–present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,150 g |
Production began in 2003, and was first issued to Zaytun Division for the Iraq War in 2004.[4]
Korean media incorrectly named the helmet a Fritz Helmet when it was first released to public in 2003.[4][5]
Development
editDiscussion on the development of the new bulletproof helmet began in 1993 after it was pointed out that Bangtan Helmet, featuring nylon composite material, offers significantly less protection compared to the United States' Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) counterpart.[6]
In the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident showed that Bangtan Helmet was useless against rifle fire; a soldier was shot dead by a helmet penetration shot from .223 Remington (5.56x45mm) fired from the M16 rifle by North Korean infiltrators.[2] Therefore, a development plan was issued in the same year. Eunseong and Oriental Industry (now Samyang Comtech), the manufacturers of Bangtan Helmet, began the development for a new ballistic helmet in 1997.
Users
edit
Ghana: 2,000 in 2004.[7]
Iraq: 48,000 in 2007 to 2008.[8]
Kuwait: At least 57 in 2004 and onward.[9]
Saudi Arabia: 8,500 in 2003.[10][11]
Republic of Korea: Standard combat helmet since 2004.
Uganda: Purchased in 2013.[12]
Ukraine: Included in the South Korean non-lethal supplies package since March 2022.[13]
United States: 2,000 in 2004.[14]
Venezuela: 1,800 in 2003.[7]
References
edit- ^ "2013 Defense Agency for Technology and Quality Statistics PDF". Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (in Korean). 2013-05-15. p. 63.
- ^ a b "［국감브리핑］육군, 신형 방탄헬멧 연내보급". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ ""우리軍 생명 지키는데 도움돼야죠"..이라크 파병부대 방탄 헬멧 생산업체". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ a b "이라크 파병 첨단장비 공개!". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ "[파병] 경비병력 1,500명 '중무장'". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ "국방부 "방탄헬멧 문제없다"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ a b "부산경찰, 방탄헬멧 불법수출 업자 검거". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ 변, 휘. "김기현 의원 "군용헬멧·미사일 부품 등 전략물자 불법수출 급증"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "방탄헬멧 등 전략물자 불법수출업자 집유". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ 제갈수만. "부산경찰, 軍 전략물자 불법 수출업체 적발". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ 최갑천 (2009-02-09). "법원 "모호한 규정으로 수출제한 안될 말"". 파이낸셜뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "한국, 우간다에 3년간 35만달러 방산수출". 연합뉴스TV (in Korean). 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "젤렌스키 국회 화상 연설서 무기 지원 요청...'6.25전쟁 살아남은 한국 도움 필요'". BBC News 코리아 (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "전략물자 불법수출 13개월간 45건". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2023-09-06.