Ballistic Helmet – Adept

Nova Titanium™ Combat Helmet

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:40:45 +0000

ULTRALIGHT TITANIUM COMBAT HELMET.

Adept Nova Titanium

Steel-helmet toughness. Bump helmet weight class. Lower deformation.

Nova Titanium gives you the combination PE helmets find impossible to deliver: Low weight, high toughness, and very low backface deformation — in a shell that never expires.

It is a 920 g all-in, size L/XL high-cut titanium combat helmet: shell, pads, retention, and standard hardware included. It is rated to stop 9mm FMJ at 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) with low backface deformation, yet it sits at or below the published complete-system weights of the lightest premium PE helmets — and within an ounce of a premium bump helmet.

Ballistic protection, the titanium way.

A continuous 260LC titanium shell, drawn into a high-cut combat profile with edge-to-edge coverage. There is no resin matrix holding the ballistic structure together. It does not delaminate after impact. It does not degrade under UV. It does not corrode in salt air, sweat, rain, or storage.

Drop it. Scrape it. Soak it. Store it in a vehicle through a Baltic winter and an Arizona summer. The pads can be replaced. The titanium shell endures.

Why Nova Titanium exists

Premium PE helmets solved weight. They did not solve the helmet.

The best composite helmets are genuinely light — and they are also expensive, thick, soft-shelled, deformation-prone. Their shells also carry a five-year clock; resin ages, laminates hide post-impact damage, and manufacturers generally don’t certify them for ballistic applications after they hit the five-year mark. And they cost $1,400 to $2,100.

Even the protection labels deserve a second look. The NIJ helmet standard (0106.01) contains no Level IIIA at all — “IIIA helmet” claims borrow a level from the body-armor standard, while quietly publishing 9mm data at 364–365 m/s, sometimes under military protocols with relaxed deformation limits. Nova Titanium is rated at 400 m/s, stated plainly.

So ask the question the spec sheets avoid: why pay three to four times more for a helmet that is not lighter, deforms more, ages worse, and is less durable? Nova Titanium is not a nostalgic return to metal helmets.

It is a direct challenge to premium PE: A formed titanium armor shell at approximately 920 g all-in for size L/XL — the same weight class as elite PE helmets and some bump helmets, with the hard-shell advantages PE cannot match.

Same weight class.

Same real ballistic protection.

Lower backface deformation.

Better rigidity and dimensional stability.

Better toughness and durability.

Closer fit, nearer center of gravity, and smaller silhouette.

Indefinite shell life.

At a fraction of the price.

Test report:

Ballistic resistance test

9-mm, 124-grain FMJ

Requested velocity: 1300 ft/s.

Download

Where Nova Titanium Sits in the Market

Adept builds metal combat helmets because metal does what composites cannot: it endures, it covers edge to edge, it resists hidden laminate damage, and it does not expire. Nova Titanium is the lightweight apex of that line.

Nova Titanium

Light, tough, low deformation

Premium titanium construction

The missing category: hard-shell performance at PE weight and a steel-class price

Steel ballistic helmet

Tough, durable, low deformation

Heavier

Nova Titanium keeps the hard-shell advantage without the weight

PE ballistic helmet

Lightweight

Expensive, thick, softer shell behavior, often higher BFD, finite life

Nova Titanium matches the weight while improving shell
rigidity, deformation behavior, and lifespan

Bump helmet

Very light, comfortable

No ballistic protection

Nova Titanium approaches bump-helmet weight with real ballistic protection

Performance

9mm FMJ protection

Rated against 9mm FMJ at 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) with low backface deformation. That test velocity is roughly 10% faster — about 20% more projectile energy — than the 364–365 m/s (1,195 ft/s) at which the leading premium PE helmets publish their 9mm data.

Backface deformation:

Low. The rigid, ductile titanium shell resists localized inward collapse and spreads impact through the shell and pad system — stiff enough to keep a hit from becoming severe head trauma.

Multi-hit & damage tolerance:

Titanium does not delaminate. A hit may leave a visible mark; it does not create an invisible laminate failure plane. Damage can be seen and evaluated instead of hiding inside a resin stack.

Edge coverage

Continuous protective coverage to the rim. The protected area is the visible shell area — no composite-style weak zone an inch from the edge.

Environmental resilience:

Immune to corrosion, UV, sweat, rain, seawater, oils, fuels, and most solvents. No five-year shell clock: the shell protects for decades; pads and retention are the wear items.

Weight class:

920 g (2.0 lb) all-in — lighter than the published complete-system weights of the Team Wendy EXFIL Ballistic SL, Ops-Core FAST SF, MTEK FLUX Ballistic, and Galvion Caiman Ballistic, and within ~30 g of an Ops-Core FAST Bump XL.

Specifications

Weight:

920 g all-in, size L/XL — shell, pads, retention, and standard hardware. Approx. 2.02 lb.

Shell Material:

260LC — Adept’s proprietary toughened titanium armor alloy, combining helmet-scale formability with ballistic toughness.

Ballistic Rating:

9mm FMJ at 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s), with low backface deformation.

Cut:

High-cut, sized to clear modern hearing protection and accept the full Adept accessory ecosystem.

Coverage:

Full edge-to-edge protection to the rim. No unprotected edge band, no thinned-out border.

Sizes:

M and L/XL. Current published all-in weight: L/XL 920 g.

Retention & Pads:

The proven NovaSteel retention system and high-performance pad concept — adjustable, simple, no fragile ratchet mechanisms. Included in the 920 g figure.

Colors:

Black, Green, Raw Titanium.

Compatibility:

Combat Circlet and the complete NovaSteel accessory ecosystem — ballistic mandible, Gen 2 flip mandible and faceshield sets, Ventail face protector, helmet tail, NVG shroud, rails, and blast liner.

Service life:

Indefinite titanium shell service life. Pads and soft goods are replaceable wear items.

How Nova Titanium Compares

Published complete-system weights, published 9mm test points, and typical street prices — not marketing labels — against the lightest premium PE ballistic helmets and leading bump helmets.

Adept Nova Titanium

$390

920 g all-in, L/XL

9mm FMJ @ 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s), low BFD

The baseline: tested faster than the leading PE helmets’ published 9mm data, at near-bump weight, with indefinite shell life and the lowest price in its weight class.

Team Wendy EXFIL Ballistic SL

≈$1,400

1.01 kg M/L;1.05 kg XL

9mm FMJ published @365 m/s (1,195 ft/s); marketed as NIJ IIIA

Nova Ti is ~9–12% lighter and rated ~10% faster on 9mm, with no shell expiry — at roughly a quarter of the price.

Ops-Core
FAST SF

≈$1,800
–2,100

1.06 kg size L system

9mm FMJ V0 @ 364 m/s (1,195 ft/s) under USSOCOM FTHS, with relaxed BTD limits; marketed as NIJ IIIA

Nova Ti is ~13% lighter and rated ~10% faster on 9mm, for about one-fifth the price.

MTEK FLUX
Ballistic

≈$1,300
–1,500

1.0 kg total system

Marketed as NIJ IIIA; limited published 9mm test data

Nova Ti is ~8% lighter, tougher, and far less expensive — with its test velocity stated openly.

Galvion Caiman Ballistic

Quote / agency

1.13 kg L; 1.23 kg XL

Modified IIIA threats; 9mm pass published @ 411–442 m/s; BTD data @ 364 m/s

Nova Ti is ~19–25% lighter at a commercial price point.

Ops-Core FAST Bump XL

≈$575
–640

890 g XL system

None — blunt impact only

Nova Ti is ~30 g (1 oz) heavier and adds real 9mm ballistic protection for a modest premium.

Team Wendy EXFIL Carbon

≈$800

0.75–0.76 kg

None — bump only

Nova Ti adds ballistic protection for ~160–170 g — and costs less than this bump helmet.

Team Wendy EXFIL LTP

≈$440

0.72 kg

None — bump only

Nova Ti adds ballistic protection for ~200 g at a comparable price.

*Typical published or street prices, June 2026; configurations and dealer pricing vary. Competitor weights are manufacturer-published complete-system figures. Note on “NIJ IIIA” claims: NIJ 0106.01, the NIJ standard for ballistic helmets, contains no Level IIIA — helmet “IIIA” claims borrow from the body-armor standard (0101.04: 9mm @ 436 ± 9 m/s) or the materials standard (0108.01: 426 ± 15 m/s), neither of which defines helmet deformation limits. In practice, most premium PE helmets publish their actual 9mm test data at 364–365 m/s (1,195 ft/s) under modified military protocols, in some cases with relaxed backface deformation limits (e.g., USSOCOM FTHS permits up to 29 mm at the front).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I buy Nova Titanium instead of a premium UHMWPE helmet?

Ask the question the other way: Why pay three to four times more for a UHMWPE helmet that is not lighter, deforms more, ages worse, and is less durable? Nova Titanium matches or surpasses premium PE helmets on complete-system weight, is rated against 9mm at a higher velocity than their published test points, beats them on backface deformation and damage tolerance, never expires, and costs $390 instead of $1,400–2,100.
What protection level does Nova Titanium meet?
Is Nova Titanium NIJ Level IIIA?

No helmet is, strictly speaking. NIJ 0106.01, the only NIJ standard written for ballistic helmets, contains three levels: I, IIA, and II. There is no Level IIIA in it. When a helmet is marketed as “NIJ IIIA,” the manufacturer is borrowing a level from the body-armor standard (NIJ 0101.04: 9mm FMJ at 436 ± 9 m/s) or the materials standard (NIJ 0108.01: 426 ± 15 m/s) — two standards that specify different velocities, and neither of which defines pass/fail backface-deformation limits for a helmet. So an unqualified “IIIA” helmet claim names a test level that does not exist for helmets, at a velocity the maker usually doesn’t state, against deformation limits of their own choosing. What the leading PE helmets actually publish tells the real story: 9mm FMJ data at 364-365 m/s (1,195 ft/s) — derived from military protocols such as the USSOCOM FTHS, with backface-deformation allowances relaxed to as much as 29 mm — not the 426–436 m/s the borrowed label implies. We don't borrow labels. Nova Titanium is rated against 9mm FMJ at 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s) with low backface deformation — roughly 10% faster, carrying about 20% more projectile energy, than the test points the premium PE helmets publish.
Is the shell titanium or composite?
How much does it weigh?
Is it heavier than a bump helmet?
Does the helmet expire?
What colors are available?
Will my NovaSteel accessories fit?
How does backface deformation compare to composite helmets?
Can I mount NVGs without drilling holes?
How is Nova Titanium different from NovaSteel?

Both are true metal helmets with edge-to-edge coverage, damage tolerance, multi-hit durability, and indefinite shell life. NovaSteel is the maximum-toughness steel option at the best price, with better special-threat and fragment performance. Nova Titanium is the premium lightweight option: titanium durability, corrosion immunity, and 920 g all-in L/XL weight.
How is Nova Titanium different from the best composite helmets?

The best composite systems are excellent — at being light. Nova Titanium is just as light, and it adds what they cannot: lower deformation, visible (not hidden) damage, no laminate failure modes, no environmental sensitivity, no expiry date, and a far lower price.

The post Nova Titanium™ Combat Helmet appeared first on Adept.

Helmet tail

admin — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:10:20 +0000

HELMET TAIL

Novasteel Lobster-Tail

Ballistic Helmet Nape Protection

Though modern combat helmets provide significant head protection, multiple studies have shown the rear head and neck remain disproportionately vulnerable, especially in contemporary conflicts where fragmentation from explosives is the dominant cause of battlefield injuries. Data from recent military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that head and neck injuries now account for up to 39% of all combat-related trauma. Critically, wounds to the back of the head and neck have significantly increased, primarily due to explosive fragmentation bypassing existing armor, which emphasizes a clear need for enhanced coverage in these areas.

The NovaSteel Ballistic Helmet Tail addresses this vulnerability directly — with an innovative, modular, and articulating design. Comprising three durable and interlocking segments, the Helmet Tail allows soldiers and tactical operators to precisely customize their protective coverage according to specific operational conditions, terrain, and anticipated threats.

In riot control scenarios, the NovaSteel Lobster-Tail offers specialized advantages drawn from historical precedent. Soldiers historically wore helmets with segmented “lobster-tail” nape armor to protect themselves from melee strikes and projectiles commonly encountered in close-quarter, chaotic combat situations. Similarly, riot control officers face projectiles, thrown objects, and blunt-force impacts, often from above or behind, in densely crowded, dynamic environments. The articulated segments of the NovaSteel Lobster-Tail effectively absorb and deflect impacts from thrown objects, batons, bricks, bottles, or improvised weapons aimed at vulnerable neck and cervical regions. This specialized design ensures officers remain protected during crowd engagements, significantly enhancing safety and operational confidence without restricting mobility or visibility.

Functional Overview

Key Advantages:

Customizable Protection:

Users can easily configure the NovaSteel Lobster-Tail by employing one, two, or all three armor segments—providing scalable ballistic coverage exactly as required by mission profile and threat environment.

Articulated Flexibility:

Each segment moves independently, ensuring continuous coverage without impeding essential head movements or comfort. Operators can freely maneuver, assume prone positions, or quickly engage targets without interference.

Rapid Deployment:

Secure attachment via standard retention points ensures stable mounting, even under dynamic or high-stress conditions, without additional components or complicated installation procedures.

Blunt impacts:

Unlike traditional fabric neck protectors, the rigid NovaSteel segments provide consistently reliable ballistic protection without shifting, folding, absorbing sweat, or slipping during rigorous use.

Operational Compatibility:

Seamlessly integrates with standard communication headsets, eyewear, and other helmet-mounted accessories without reducing usability or performance. Indeed, it works well as a counterweight.

The NovaSteel Lobster-Tail reliably surpasses ballistic performance criteria established by ACH and VPAM-3 standards, consistently demonstrating minimal backface deformation (BFD), exceptional edge-impact resilience, and reliable performance in high-temperature conditions exceeding 168°F.

Simply put, the NovaSteel Ballistic Lobster-Tail offers adaptable, evidence-based protection precisely where it matters most — ensuring uncompromised effectiveness in diverse tactical situations.

TYPE

Ballistic Helmet Tail – Modular Helmet Accessory

An articulating, multi-segmented armor module specifically engineered to enhance ballistic protection of the rear head and neck region on the NovaSteel ballistic helmet. Provides critical protection from fragmentation, handgun projectiles, and blunt-force trauma.

RATING:

ACH & ACH-Gen II Helmet Specification

The NovaSteel Lobster-Tail comfortably exceeds ACH and ACH Gen II performance standards, reliably stopping threats including 9mm FMJ projectiles at velocities over 1400 fps. Blunt impact resistance and backface deformation results consistently outperform military specifications.

RATING:

VPAM-3 Helmet Specification

Although no VPAM-specific protocol exists for rear-mounted helmet attachments, the NovaSteel Lobster-Tail closely aligns with VPAM-3 requirements. It demonstrates robust ballistic protection, minimal BFD, superior edge-impact performance, and exceptional durability even at elevated temperatures (168°F and beyond).

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NovaSteel™ Helmet – ACH

Arif — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:56:04 +0000

ACH HELMET – NOVASTEEL
The world’s toughest ballistic helmet

The Steel Helmet – Evolved

The steel pot. Immediately recognizable. A visual representation of the American fighting man, as seen on marketing and recruiting materials the world over. Millions of M1 helmets were produced, and they were the standard-issue helmet for US military forces from the World War Era until 1983. The M1 has been described as the most successful helmet of all time, given its service history spanning decades.

In light of this, it may be surprising to note that the metallurgy behind the M1 helmet dates back over one hundred years, and was never improved. The M1 is made from Hadfield Steel — an inferior armor alloy that first saw use in the early days of World War One. As far back as 1917, United States manufacturers had attempted to produce helmets from high-hardness chrome-nickel-vanadium steel. Unfortunately, these methods met with failure; the steel was too difficult to form with the means available at the time, and inevitably cracked during the stamping operation. The US had to resort to helmets of Hadfield’s high-manganese steel simply on account of the fact that it could be made cheaply and rapidly with that era’s methods of production.

So Hadfield Steel wasn’t even the best ballistic steel of 1917, to say nothing of today. For reasons that doubtless have much to do with institutional inertia, and which have nothing to do with steel’s merits as an armor material, the M1 was made of Hadfield Steel until the day it was discarded in favor of Kevlar.

Advances in steel processing technologies may have just turned the tables. The NovaSteel helmet is made of a vastly stronger alloy. It was built to withstand all of today’s threats. It is more comfortable, more modular, and more adaptable. It is a thoroughly modern ACH ballistic helmet, with the pedigree of steel, and performance that is in many respects the best available anywhere.

The NovaSteel Helmet is the M1, evolved.

It is time for steel to retake its position as the helmet material of choice.

The Combat Circlet

Encircling the helmet, the Combat Circlet is an ideal mounting platform for NVGs and other headborne accessories. Mounted securely to the four retention-system holes on the helmet, it provides:

• An NVG bracket which requires no holes drilled into the front of the helmet, and bungee cord ports for stabilization and NVG retention.
• M-Lok side rails that accept accessories directly, and can also be used as a platform for Picatinny adapters.
• A vertical crest for more stability, and more accessory-mounting real estate. There are numerous modules in development for the crest, including applique blast protection, and an applique ghille module.
• A rear tie-down bar for enhanced stability, with or without a counterweight.
• Clean routing points for external wires and cables.
• Direct integration with the Face Protector.

The Combat Circlet is manufactured out of tough glass-filled polymer via advanced additive manufacturing techniques. It weighs just two ounces, but is impressively strong and resilient. Like the NeoSteel helmet, it’ll serve you well for years to come.

Ballistic Performance

The NovaSteel Helmet is fully VPAM 3 compliant, and is capable of stopping a wide variety of potent special threats, including:

• 7.62x25mm Tokarev at 1650 feet per second.

• 5.7x28mm ball rounds at over 2000 feet per second.

• 9x19mm 80gr. solid copper spun (SCS) rounds at carbine velocities.

And more. In every case, backface deformation is minimal.

The NovaSteel ACH Helmet also boasts good performance against fragmentation threats, with performance comparable to aramid helmets such as the PASGT. The M1 had a V50 well under 1000 feet per second, and modern European metal helmets have a V50 against the same threat of just 986 feet per second.

Behind armor blunt trauma and head/neck acceleration

The NovaSteel is the best ACH helmet to use if you’re concerned about behind armor trauma.

The NovaSteel Helmet is not capable of significant backface deformation, and its stiff shell spreads the kinetic energy load of a projectile impact across the entire padding system.

In contrast, with a lightweight composite helmet, backface deformation is a real concern, and is associated with injuries up to and including skull fracture.

In any case, with either helmet, neck injuries resulting from head acceleration are very unlikely. A report by the Committee on Testing of Body Armor Materials for Use by the U.S. Army has examined the transfer of momentum in ballistic head impacts, and estimates that there’s a less than 0.1% chance of neck injury following small arms helmet impacts, up to and including 7.62x51mm rifle round impacts. This has been corroborated in tests performed by other labs.

The NovaSteel Helmet doesn’t only exhibit good ballistic performance – it does so in a way that poses effectively no risk of blunt impact injury to the helmet wearer. It won’t just keep you alive; it’ll enable you to return fire. No other helmet can say the same.

Further, TBI has been called “the signature injury of modern warfare,” and its emergence over the course of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has revealed that there are injuries that current helmets have not been designed to protect against. Helmets must continue to evolve to address today’s threats. The NovaSteel Helmet’s ultra-rigid shell and industry-leading padding system ensure extremely good blunt impact and blast protection. The NovaSteel Helmet may be a key component in the ongoing fight against blast-induced TBI.

Blunt Impact Performance

The NovaSteel helmet exceeds ACH blunt impact performance standards by nearly 50%.

The NovaSteel was tested at NTS-Chesapeake in accordance with the blunt impact testing procedure of AR/PD 10-02 Rev A Change 7 (the latest ACH and ACH Gen-2 blunt impact performance specification). It was shown to provide excellent impact protection, achieving an average headform acceleration of 78.5 G, vs. maximum acceleration of 150 G, as shown in the test report.

TEST REPORT

Environmental stability

The functional lifespans of composite helmets are unknown, and for this reason they are typically sold with short warranty periods. The NovaSteel Helmet, in contrast, has an indefinite service lifespan. If its handled and stored with reasonable care, it’ll maintain its full protective ability for many decades. It is nearly or completely impervious to cold, chemical exposure, solvent exposure, UV radiation exposure, and structural loading. Its heat resistance is substantially superior to polyethylene-based helmets; it has been tested to against steel-jacketed 9mm rounds, at over 1400 feet per second, immediately following 12 hours of conditioning at 100°C. Even under such conditions, it did not allow penetration and did not exhibit excess backface deformation.

Damage tolerance

Composite helmets must be immediately replaced after a single impact, for they will have delaminated and will not continue to exhibit good overall performance; they may even be impossible to wear comfortably, on account of permanent shell deformation. The NovaSteel Helmet, like the steel helmets of old, can remain in emergency battlefield service after sustaining impacts. For permanent damage to the shell is sure be slight, and should not meaningfully compromise future performance.

The NovaSteel Helmet can sustain tremendous damage before its form or function are compromised, and this battlefield durability makes it extremely well-suited for use by regular and light infantry forces.

With The NovaSteel Helmet, you can forget about
replacing your helmet every five years.

Edge-to-edge Protection

Composite helmets offer little protection around their rims; hits near the helmet edge can cause the ballistic material to roll, resulting in penetrations or excessive trauma. For this reason, the ACH spec has always included this terminology on fair hits: “An impact resulting in a complete penetration shall be considered unfair if it is within 1.5-inches of another impact, within 1.5-inches of the closest edge of any hole, within 1.0-inch of the edge of the helmet.“

On the streets and in the field, not all shots are fair. But the NovaSteel Helmet has you covered: It offers full edge-to-edge protection – which vastly increases its area of protective coverage. A leading competitor’s helmet offers 136 square inches of coverage in a size L – but the stated protective area of that helmet is under 90 square inches. The steel helmet offers well over 110 square inches of real protection.

Comfort and balance

As the steel helmet is not capable of significant deformation upon impact, thick pads are not required, and the standoff distance between the helmet and the head is reduced. Additionally, the shell is up to six times thinner than standard aramid or UHMWPE helmets. Ultimately, this makes for a more streamlined helmet, a better-balanced helmet, and a lower-profile target. Furthermore, the retention system developed by Adept offers real adjustability and stability, without ratchets or other mechanical parts that may break if handled roughly.

Modularity

A broad array of accessories are available or in development:

• NVG shroud
• M-Lok side rails
• Ballistic mandible
• Ballistic visor
• Blast liner set
• Rifle-rated ballistic applique

The NovaSteel Helmet is a platform, designed to be extremely customizable.

The World’s Toughest Ballistic Helmet

The NovaSteel Helmet steel helmet boasts traits that cannot be matched by any other combat helmet. Incomparable toughness. Near-zero shell deformation upon impact. Excellent performance against high-velocity special threats. A top-tier padding system. A pedigree that hearkens back to previous generations of the American fighting man. A price affordable for large-scale military procurement.

Several patents pending. The NovaSteel ACH helmet is the first and the definitive modern steel ballistic combat helmet.

Ballistic performance:

VPAM-3 + special threats

Minimal BFD and trauma

Best-in-class performance

Extreme environmental stability

Best-in-class shelf-life

Modular

Modular design

Ultra durable

Capable of sustaining tremendous damage before form or function are compromised

Protection

From rim to rim

Developed

With comfort and balance in mind

The world’s toughest

combat helmet

“Please contact us for international order inquiries.”

ACH HELMET – NOVASTEEL
The world’s toughest ballistic helmet

The Steel Helmet – Evolved

The NovaSteel Helmet is the M1, evolved.

It is time for steel to retake its position as the helmet material of choice.

The Combat Circlet

Encircling the helmet, the Combat Circlet is an ideal mounting platform for NVGs and other headborne accessories. Mounted securely to the four retention-system holes on the helmet, it provides:

The Combat Circlet is manufactured out of tough glass-filled polymer via advanced additive manufacturing techniques. It weighs just two ounces, but is impressively strong and resilient. Like the NovaSteel helmet, it’ll serve you well for years to come.

Ballistic Performance

The NovaSteel Helmet is fully VPAM 3 compliant, and is capable of stopping a wide variety of potent special threats, including:

• 7.62x25mm Tokarev at 1650 feet per second.

• 5.7x28mm ball rounds at over 2000 feet per second.

• 9x19mm 80gr. solid copper spun (SCS) rounds at carbine velocities.

And more. In every case, backface deformation is minimal.

Behind armor blunt trauma and head/neck acceleration

The NovaSteel is the best ACH helmet to use if you’re concerned about behind armor trauma.

The NovaSteel Helmet is not capable of significant backface deformation, and its stiff shell spreads the kinetic energy load of a projectile impact across the entire padding system.

In contrast, with a lightweight composite helmet, backface deformation is a real concern, and is associated with injuries up to and including skull fracture.

Blunt Impact Performance

The NovaSteel helmet exceeds ACH blunt impact performance standards by nearly 50%.

TEST REPORT

Environmental stability

Damage tolerance

With The NovaSteel Helmet, you can forget about replacing your helmet every five years.

Edge-to-edge Protection

Comfort and balance

Modularity

A broad array of accessories are available or in development:

• NVG shroud
• M-Lok side rails
• Ballistic mandible
• Ballistic visor
• Blast liner set
• Rifle-rated ballistic applique

The NovaSteel Helmet is a platform, designed to be extremely customizable.

The World’s Toughest Ballistic Helmet

Several patents pending. The NovaSteel ACH helmet is the first and the definitive modern steel ballistic combat helmet.

“Please contact us for international order inquiries.”

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NovaSteel™ Helmet – High Cut

Arif — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:56:24 +0000

Advanced Evolution of the Steel Helmet

Advances in steel processing technologies may have just turned the tables. The NovaSteel helmet is made of a vastly stronger alloy. It was built to withstand all of today’s threats. It is more comfortable, more modular, and more adaptable. It is a thoroughly modern high cut ballistic helmet, with the pedigree of steel, and performance that is in many respects the best available anywhere.

The NovaSteel Helmet is the M1, evolved.

It is time for steel to retake its position as the helmet material of choice.

The Combat Circlet

Encircling the helmet, the Combat Circlet is an ideal mounting platform for NVGs and other headborne accessories. Mounted securely to the four retention-system holes on the helmet, it provides:

The Combat Circlet is manufactured out of tough glass-filled polymer via advanced additive manufacturing techniques. It weighs just two ounces, but is impressively strong and resilient. Like the NovaSteel helmet, it’ll serve you well for years to come.

Face Protection Module

The NovaSteel Ventail offers enhanced protection from ballistic threats — covering the face, the side of the head, and a portion of the anterior neck. It also offers protection from blunt impact, blast overpressure, and debris. Mounts rapidly and securely to the helmet via the four retention system holes on the shell. Fully compatible with most ballistic glasses, the Ventail offers an unconstrained field of vision, and is significantly lighter and tougher than transparent ballistic visors.

Ballistic
Performance

The NovaSteel Helmet is fully VPAM 3 compliant, and is capable of stopping a wide variety of potent special threats, including:

• 7.62x25mm Tokarev at 1650 feet per second.

• 5.7x28mm ball rounds at over 2000 feet per second.

• 9x19mm 80gr. solid copper spun (SCS) rounds at carbine velocities.

And more. In every case, backface deformation is minimal.

The NovaSteel Helmet also boasts good performance against fragmentation threats, with performance comparable to aramid helmets such as the PASGT. The M1 had a V50 well under 1000 feet per second, and modern European metal helmets have a V50 against the same threat of just 986 feet per second.

Behind armor blunt trauma and head/neck acceleration

The NovaSteel Helmet is the best ballistic helmet to use if you’re concerned about behind armor trauma.

The NovaSteel Helmet is not capable of significant backface deformation, and its stiff shell spreads the kinetic energy load of a projectile impact across the entire padding system.

In contrast, with a lightweight composite helmet, backface deformation is a real concern, and is associated with injuries up to and including skull fracture.

Blunt Impact Performance

The NovaSteel helmet exceeds ACH blunt impact performance standards by nearly 50%.

Test report:

Ballistic resistance test

Download

Operator’s guide

Setup / Usage Notes / Donning / Accessories

Download

Test Video:

Environmental stability

Damage tolerance

With The NovaSteel Helmet, you can forget about
replacing your helmet every five years.

Edge-to-edge Protection

Comfort and balance

Modularity

A broad array of accessories are available or in development:

• NVG shroud
• M-Lok side rails
• Ballistic mandible
• Ballistic visor
• Blast liner set
• Rifle-rated ballistic applique

The NovaSteel Helmet is a platform, designed to be extremely customizable.

The World’s Toughest Ballistic Helmet

Several patents pending. The NovaSteel helmet is the first and the definitive modern steel ballistic combat helmet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What protection level does the NovaSteel helmet meet?
Is the shell steel or composite?
Can I mount NVGs without drilling?
How does back‑face deformation compare to Kevlar lids?
Does the helmet expire?
What sizes and colors are available?
Why steel rather than UHMWPE or aramid? Isn't steel outdated?

Steel performs better against most handgun threats, including steel-cored handgun threats. It exhibits more reliable performance, with less BFD, and is inherently more capable of handling shots that impact near the helmet edge. In addition to this, it exhibits comparable performance vs. fragment threats. (17gr FSP V50 = 2060 fps.) It is also less sensitive to temperature extremes and rough handling and abuse.

“Please contact us for international order inquiries.”

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Ballistic Helmet – Adept

Nova Titanium™ Combat Helmet

ULTRALIGHT TITANIUM COMBAT HELMET.

Adept Nova Titanium

Steel-helmet toughness. Bump helmet weight class. Lower deformation.

Ballistic protection, the titanium way.

Why Nova Titanium exists

Premium PE helmets solved weight. They did not solve the helmet.

So ask the question the spec sheets avoid: why pay three to four times more for a helmet that is not lighter, deforms more, ages worse, and is less durable? Nova Titanium is not a nostalgic return to metal helmets.

It is a direct challenge to premium PE: A formed titanium armor shell at approximately 920 g all-in for size L/XL — the same weight class as elite PE helmets and some bump helmets, with the hard-shell advantages PE cannot match.

Same weight class.

Same real ballistic protection.

Lower backface deformation.

Better rigidity and dimensional stability.

Better toughness and durability.

Closer fit, nearer center of gravity, and smaller silhouette.

Indefinite shell life.

At a fraction of the price.

Test report:

Ballistic resistance test

9-mm, 124-grain FMJ

Where Nova Titanium Sits in the Market

Adept builds metal combat helmets because metal does what composites cannot: it endures, it covers edge to edge, it resists hidden laminate damage, and it does not expire. Nova Titanium is the lightweight apex of that line.

Nova Titanium

Light, tough, low deformation

Premium titanium construction

The missing category: hard-shell performance at PE weight and a steel-class price

Steel ballistic helmet

Tough, durable, low deformation

Heavier

Nova Titanium keeps the hard-shell advantage without the weight

PE ballistic helmet

Lightweight

Expensive, thick, softer shell behavior, often higher BFD, finite life

Nova Titanium matches the weight while improving shellrigidity, deformation behavior, and lifespan

Bump helmet

Very light, comfortable

No ballistic protection

Nova Titanium approaches bump-helmet weight with real ballistic protection

Performance

9mm FMJ protection

Backface deformation:

Multi-hit & damage tolerance:

Edge coverage

Environmental resilience:

Weight class:

Specifications

Weight:

Shell Material:

Ballistic Rating:

Cut:

Coverage:

Sizes:

Retention & Pads:

Colors:

Compatibility:

Service life:

How Nova Titanium Compares

Published complete-system weights, published 9mm test points, and typical street prices — not marketing labels — against the lightest premium PE ballistic helmets and leading bump helmets.

Adept Nova Titanium

$390

920 g all-in, L/XL

9mm FMJ @ 400 m/s (1,312 ft/s), low BFD

The baseline: tested faster than the leading PE helmets’ published 9mm data, at near-bump weight, with indefinite shell life and the lowest price in its weight class.

Team Wendy EXFIL Ballistic SL

≈$1,400

1.01 kg M/L;1.05 kg XL

9mm FMJ published @365 m/s (1,195 ft/s); marketed as NIJ IIIA

Nova Ti is ~9–12% lighter and rated ~10% faster on 9mm, with no shell expiry — at roughly a quarter of the price.

Ops-Core FAST SF

≈$1,800 –2,100

1.06 kg size L system

9mm FMJ V0 @ 364 m/s (1,195 ft/s) under USSOCOM FTHS, with relaxed BTD limits; marketed as NIJ IIIA

Nova Ti is ~13% lighter and rated ~10% faster on 9mm, for about one-fifth the price.

MTEK FLUXBallistic

≈$1,300–1,500

1.0 kg total system

Marketed as NIJ IIIA; limited published 9mm test data

Nova Ti is ~8% lighter, tougher, and far less expensive — with its test velocity stated openly.

Galvion Caiman Ballistic

Nova Titanium matches the weight while improving shell
rigidity, deformation behavior, and lifespan

Ops-Core
FAST SF

≈$1,800
–2,100

MTEK FLUX
Ballistic

≈$1,300
–1,500

≈$575
–640