A bullet is not the only threat a ballistic helmet may face. In conflict zones, artillery, grenades and other explosive devices can create high-speed fragments. Those fragments, as well as secondary debris, can strike from unpredictable directions. Assessing a helmet only against handgun ammunition therefore leaves out an important part of the protection picture.
A study of US combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2005 and 2009 found that explosive mechanisms accounted for 74.4% of casualties in the cohort studied, compared with 19.9% attributed to gunshot wounds. This does not mean that 74.4% of casualties were caused specifically by fragments: an explosion can cause injuries in several ways. It does show why explosive threats deserve serious attention when evaluating protective equipment.
What is V50?
V50 is a ballistic limit measured with a specified projectile under defined test conditions. It estimates the impact velocity at which that projectile has a 50% probability of completely penetrating the test article. During testing, projectiles are fired at different velocities and the outcomes are recorded as complete penetrations or non-penetrations. These results are used to calculate the V50 value.
A higher V50 under comparable test conditions indicates greater resistance to that particular projectile. The number cannot be compared fairly without checking the projectile type and mass, test method and tested article. Nor is V50 a guaranteed maximum speed at which every fragment will be stopped: penetration can occur below the reported value, and a fragment may be stopped above it.
Our High Cut helmet: independently tested at AITEX
In February 2026, AITEX in Spain tested a complete DBA High Cut helmet for fragmentation resistance using a 1.1 g F5 fragment-simulating projectile. The ballistic limit test followed AEP-2920 Edition A, Version 2. AITEX reported a V50 of 692.9 m/s for the tested helmet.
The test involved 11 valid impacts. AITEX used six shots between 671.4 m/s and 702.2 m/s for its V50 calculation. The reported 95% confidence interval was 683.3 to 704.3 m/s.
That result describes the performance of the specific helmet and F5 projectile tested. It is a separate measurement from the report's 9 × 19 mm and .44 Magnum tests, which were performed on a different, Low Cut sample. Each test answers a different question about ballistic performance.
Why the test matters
Fragmentation testing gives buyers a measured basis for comparing helmets against a defined fragment threat. It also puts ballistic claims in context: the test result has meaning because the projectile, test procedure and sample are identified.
Real fragments vary in size, shape, speed and impact angle. A laboratory V50 cannot predict the outcome of every real-world strike. It can, however, show how a helmet performed under repeatable conditions and help inform a broader assessment of protection, coverage, weight and wearability.
At Dutch Body Armor, we believe helmet performance should be described through specific, verifiable results. For our tested High Cut helmet, the fragmentation result is V50 692.9 m/s with a 1.1 g F5 fragment-simulating projectile, as measured by AITEX under AEP-2920 Edition A, Version 2.
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