Hard Head Veterans (HHV) as can be inferred by their name is a Veteran owned and operated manufacturer of ballistic helmets and other protective headgear. Located in Sweetwater, Texas, Hard Head Veterans has been attempting to establish itself in the highly competitive but small market of ballistic and protective headwear for shooters and operators. HHV has recently announced the introduction of its new American-Made ATE_Lite ballistic helmet. This new domestically produced ballistic helmet boasts a new lightweight and adaptable design and attempts to blend performance, price, customization and comfort all into one affordable package for all shooters – not just military or police operators.

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HHV Launches the American-Made ATE_Lite Ballistic Helmet

Hard Head Veterans’ mission of protecting our protectors shines through with the ATE_Lite, as it provides impressive protection while also being ultra-lightweight. The helmet is made from a hybrid blend of UHMWPE and Aramid and has a shell weight of 1.6 pounds, with a total system weight of 2.3 pounds in the medium size. The ATE_Lite is a perfect blend of performance and comfort, making it ideal for extended use.

Hard Head Veterans is dedicated to producing gear that performs in real-world situations. That’s why the ATE_Lite was put to the test at the National Technical Systems testing lab, the leading independent testing lab for personal protective gear. The helmet consistently hit single digit ballistic transient deformation numbers, with an average of 8.27mm against 9mm at 1400 fps (Testing Data Here). Furthermore the ATE_Lite has been thoroughly tested against .40 and .45ACP, with deformation numbers still far below the 24mm required for 9mm (Testing data here). FBI casualty data tells us that these three calibers account for the majority of handgun threats in the US. While many manufacturers move away from BFD testing, and even new standards such as ASTM WK70812 make this testing optional, Hard Head Veterans helmets have always been designed with limiting BFD at the forefront and we will continue to do so. The ATE_Lite has also been tested to the NIJ IIIA standards and is rated to stop .44 magnum in resistance to penetration tests.

HHV’s MicroLattice Pads not only play an important role with BFD and blunt impact mitigation, but provide unparalleled comfort, and support in the ATE Lite. Conforming the helmet naturally to each individual’s skull shape, while maximizing airflow inside of the helmet. The ATE_Lite also features Hard Head Veterans’ signature A3S Lite shroud, one of the lightest helmet shrouds on the market, weighing only 32 grams. This night vision retention shroud features rubber inserts and machined aerospace aluminum inserts that prevent movement on most common mounts. In addition to this the ATE_Lite comes standard with our patented SnapBack Retention system, which is a set it and forget it alternative to dial type retention systems that have failure prone mechanical parts.

The Hard Head Veterans new ATE_Lite ballistic helmet will be available for $978.99 or for $764.00 as a stand-alone product without any pre-installed accessories or components – just the shell in any of the three standard colors (black, OD, tan). This option is for those who want to test and tune their own setup or try out accessories and components from other manufacturers on the HHV ATE_Lite – hopefully, to get the optimal setup for the user. For more information on the new ATE_Lite ballistic helmet, you can visit http://hardheadveterans.com/.