U.S. Marines getting new helmets

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JESSUP, Pa., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has given BAE Systems a $28 million order for newly designed lightweight combat helmets.

The helmet, first produced by the company last year, is fully certified as meeting ballistic, structural and non-ballistic impact testing standards set by the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Test Center.

BAE Systems said the order is an option on an existing contract issued to BAE Systems in.2010.

"This lightweight helmet is a sophisticated design engineered to meet the Corps' protection requirements for bullets and fragmentation," said Eric Gavelda, director of Warfighter Protection at BAE Systems Protection Systems. "This order allows us to continue production well into 2014."

BAE Systems facility in Jessup, Pa., will produce the helmet. The U.S. Army's Advanced Combat Helmets and Combat Vehicle Crewman Helmets are also produced at the plant.