Hi Guys I found this article today,and thought it might be of interest to Brit kit fan's.

The helmet, currently under trial, forms part of what the MoD calls FIST - Future Integrated Soldier Technology - and is part of a £1billion-a-year programme to update battlefield equipment.
The Lewis Sharpshooter is semi-automatic and said to be accurate up to 2,500ft - ideal for mountain warfare.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1289551/The-British-soldier-future-Star-Wars-helmet-sharpshooter-rifle-Taliban.html#ixzz18TMhzSv0

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1289551/The-British-soldier-future-Star-Wars-helmet-sharpshooter-rifle-Taliban.html#ixzz18TMXTmwi

Changing: A British soldier wearing the clothing of the future, current operational clothing and what British soldiers were wearing five years ago (From left to right)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1289551/The-British-soldier-future-Star-Wars-helmet-sharpshooter-rifle-Taliban.html#ixzz18TNDu02O

And while I'm on the subject of Trial kit what ever happens to this cool DPM uniform

I believe this was trialled around about 2007,and eventually superseded by MTP


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Then and now( well at that current time !!!)

Left to right.

Pre 2003 Uniform. 2003 onwards. Pecoc.(The Personal Equipment and Common Operational Clothing (PECOC) trials are in the assessment phase and the new kit has an in-service date for operational troops of autumn 2010 followed by mid-2011 for the role out of 95,000 sets to all three services.

The Personal Equipment and Common Operational Clothing (PECOC)

And another PECOC image.

I'd trade my car for a legit set of that "pink" hybrid DPM!

It's also interesting that the trial kit has tan webbing & accessories as opposed to a printed pattern... I suppose they were just printed in one colour for cost purposes, just to get a working model in circulation -- I guess that if that platform is pursued items will be made in an MTP pattern.

Who knows? Half the fun will be watching what they come up and decide to pursue for the soldier of tomorrow!

Ben wrote:I'd trade my car for a legit set of that "pink" hybrid DPM!

It's also interesting that the trial kit has tan webbing & accessories as opposed to a printed pattern... I suppose they were just printed in one colour for cost purposes, just to get a working model in circulation -- I guess that if that platform is pursued items will be made in an MTP pattern.

Who knows? Half the fun will be watching what they come up and decide to pursue for the soldier of tomorrow!

Yeah ,me too ,I wouldn't mind some this trial kit in my collection

And I would imagine that MTP would be the way to go ,for the webbing too,the digital hearing device is in service,and contains comm's and hearing protection in one,which is cool,and course the MK 7 lid is in use,which looks very similar too the trial version.

Such a pity the DPM was not introduced,but then again the MTP does give the UK troops a more modern look

I don't care much for the weird helmet attachment, though -- it looks too much like something from the Halo videogame.
But hey, if it saves lives on the battlefield, by all means use it!

Ben wrote:I don't care much for the weird helmet attachment, though -- it looks too much like something from the Halo videogame.
But hey, if it saves lives on the battlefield, by all means use it!

Yeah Mate good point, or Star wars X -wing fighter lid,it's way too futuristic,I will eat my whole helmet collection,if it ever made it into service....can you imagine the remarks," I am NOT, wearing that freaky looking thing,you can forget it Mate"!

Wow, I hope British WILL NOT adopt this helmet. It just looks so cheesy and high in profile.

I didn't see anything wrong with the MK6A helmet and I definitely do not disagree with the protection capabilities of the MK7, but these newer helmets just look "clunky".

Although they are in the testing stages still, so I'm confident that the final version will be different from the prototype we are seeing at present. Case in point look at how the ACU pattern started before it was adopted (Google search urban track camouflage and you will see what I mean)... it wasn't even a digital pattern. Granted ACU ended up not working out so well, but that's a whole other discussion.

Looking at the Photo again,I would imagine the chin piece on the FIST helmet,would hinder the ground view.....my monies on it NOT being introduced...I know a few of my sqauddy mates would not be happy to wear this oddity,and therefore I would imagine this issue would be universal amongst all UK troops....unless of course they wanted to look like some sci-fi airsoftie gimp,who is a total "billy no mates" loser e.t.c