El Salvador Kevlar Helmet Question

[NKOMO]

I recently picked up an El Salvador Kevlar helmet from a US pilot who was there in 1989. He said it was US made, but looking at the helmet....I don't think so. No US markings and it has more screws/bolts than the standard US Kevlar. Also, the inside is very rough and has many bumps that you don't see on US produced helmets.

My question is this, does anyone know if the Kevlar helmets used by the El Salvador Armed Forces in the late 80's were of indigenous manufacture or if they were made by another country for El Salvador? Any help is greatly appreciated.
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[Luftm40]

I served there around that time....most of their combat kit was US...but some central/latin america countries also produced their own version of stuff. Any chance for a pic?

[Towarish]

Photos would be great.

[NKOMO]

Your wish is my command!

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/001-1.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/002-1.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/003-1.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/004-1.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o369/Nkomo13/005.jpg

[Towarish]

Thanks for the photos.

I am quite sure that this K-pot started its life as a PASGT.
The liner still looks US made and same goes for the shell.

[NKOMO]

Thanks for the opinion Towarish. I am going to post some side-by-side pictures of a standard US PASGT helmet (CAG used in Just Cause) with a 1985 date in the crown and the El Sal helmet. There are some very slight differences between the two.
Front view
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/001-2.jpg
Side View. Notice different cuts for bottom part.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/002-2.jpg
Back view. Notice different amount of screws in El Sal helmet.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/003-2.jpg
Side view again.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o...mo13/004-2.jpg

Inside comparisions.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o369/Nkomo13/006.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o369/Nkomo13/007.jpg
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o369/Nkomo13/008.jpg

Inside view of El Sal helmet with extra D-ring in the back of the helmet. This is not present in the US model.
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o369/Nkomo13/010.jpg

[Towarish]

Your new side-view photos have oppened my eyes.
In your very first photos the side view was more angular, hence it seemed that the ear-part and the shell were shorter and I've missed the D-ring.

I don't think that this Kevlar was US made anymore.

If you want me to post photos of my PASGT's let me know.

Cheers,
Phil

[NKOMO]

Pleas epost your pics!

[Towarish]

Hey,
here are some photos of my PASGTs.
Note, the photos are almost two years old and maybe not the best.
Anyways, if you need better pics or additional infos just let me know.

The OD Kevlar is an early Gentex Corp. made
The other PASGT was made at a more recent date by Unicor.

Cheers,

[polihelmet]

Hi , I also have a Mexican army PASGT clone, that is almost identical with the US made, but with some minor differences, and no markings at all.
As far as I know, some of those copies that many latin american countries buy, are made in South Korea, China and Singapore.
They are cheaper than US made.
Specially 80s 90s kevlars, are almost exact copies of the PASGT.