The word is just getting around that Revision Eyewear, which already has a sizeable customer base in the airsoft market, just bagged a contract from the US Army's Natick Labs Soldier Systems Division to develop the next generation helmet worth just a tad below US$2 million. This has been reported by Soldier Systems Blog based on the press release from the Office of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont).

We tried looking into a possible design of the helmet, and we found some photos posted by Military Times Gear Scout Blog in 2009 on proposed Next Gen Helmet Design made by Revision Eyewear called the Modular Protection Attachment System (MPAS). Indeed, the photos below show one of the designs for the helmet which is a patented design awarded to Revision Eyewear last February 8, 2011 (US PatenT No. D632439 "Helmet Mandible").

According to Gear Scout, the MPAS is comprised of three modules designed to protect the wearer from impact without compromising on weight and builds on already standardized military accessories:

A. Module Halo: This is an attachment to a standard ACH with NVG mount, OPS-CORE rails and anchor point in the rear for the helmet mandible module.

B. Module Eye Shield: This is an eyeshield the drops down like a helmet visor for eye and upperface protection. It has an airflow position, or tightly sealed position which may be compatible as a chemical attack protection attachment.

C. Module Mandible: This is the patented Helmet Mandible which are just three of such mandible guards. The Mesh guard will make one look like an American Football player and is designed for crowd control purposes, and the two ballistic versions  which will make one look like a Paintball Player.

While the MPAS is the original Revision Eyewear proposal for the Next Gen Helmet, there will be changes as the design will go through US Natick Testing, and thus, it is not the fnal design.

Our thanks to Soldierboy from the US for sending us links about this news.