Terrorist attacks and gang violence have pushed the ballistic threat level faced by law enforcement to an all-time high. Officers on duty may now encounter both pistol and rifle calibres. When it comes to protecting the head, only specialist helmets can stop rifle rounds—and just a few manufacturers make them. One of the leading names is Austrian.
Police tactical units are increasingly likely to come up against rifle fire in the line of duty. Admittedly, the threat isn’t entirely new—Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland, with their strong hunting traditions, have always had a high number of legal firearms in civilian hands. But these lawful owners aren’t the problem.
The real threat comes from organised crime, extremist cells and street gangs—groups armed with military-grade weapons. Officers dealing with them must have proper ballistic headgear.
A ballistic helmet can’t just stop a bullet—it must also protect the wearer from blunt trauma. If the helmet’s shell bends too much on impact, it can cause serious head injuries despite halting the round. The design and materials must absorb both the projectile and the energy it delivers.
Assault Rifles in the Hands of Terrorists
The 2015 Paris attacks were a brutal wake-up call. Terrorists launched a coordinated strike using 7.62x39mm assault rifles, causing mass casualties.
The attackers were armed with Eastern Bloc knock-offs of the Russian AK-47: Yugoslav Zastava M70s, Bulgarian AKKS-47s, and Chinese Norinco Type 56-1s. All fire the same 7.62x39mm cartridge. There’s no doubt similar weapons are circulating in the European black market—reliable, battle-proven, and worryingly available.
Helmet makers got to work fast. One of the few to deliver real solutions was Austria’s Ulbrichts. Mehler Vario Systems (now Mehler Systems) also entered the field with its own rifle-rated helmets.
Austrian Titanium Helmets – Ulbrichts Group
Ulbrichts Group, based in Austria, has two arms: Protection and Automotive. The Protection division manufactures titanium and hybrid helmets widely adopted by European police forces. The company is run by CEO Georg Scharpenack.
(Image: Screen caption, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNI6BdmwzNE&t=298s&ab_channel=DefenseWebTV)
The helmets are made in Schwanenstadt, Upper Austria. Ulbrichts produces two main product lines: Optio and Zenturio. Zenturio helmets are rifle-rated. Optio helmets are designed to stop pistol rounds but can be upgraded with a rifle-rated plate over the forehead.
Polytanium: Layered Ballistic Hybrid Material
Ulbrichts developed its own composite material called Polytanium, a layered hybrid combining titanium and high-density polyethylene fibre. Polyethylene layers are heat-pressed into a rigid shape and bonded to a titanium backing. The result is strong, lightweight, and highly protective.
“Polytanium combines polyethylene’s ability to stop projectiles with titanium’s energy-absorbing properties, reducing the force transmitted to the head,” the company explains. “The two materials together give superior protection—stopping the bullet and limiting head trauma.”
Importantly, titanium is not the outer strike face. Polyethylene takes the initial hit. Titanium is there to support and reduce trauma from impact.
Optio series helmets can be upgraded with VPAM-6 rated Fortis plates. Pictured here is a low-cut Optio model, designed for police special units needing maximum protective coverage.
(Image: Ulbrichts)
Full-Circle Rifle Protection: VPAM-6 Helmet
At the EnforceTac expo in February 2025, Ulbrichts launched its new VPAM-6 class helmet. It’s built to stop a 7.62x39mm full metal jacket round with a soft steel (or “mild steel”) core—exactly the sort of bullet fired in Paris in 2015.
The VPAM-6 helmet provides 360-degree protection—not just at the front. It keeps energy transfer to the skull under 25 joules, the VPAM standard for avoiding serious head injury. It’s not light, though—it weighs 3.3 kilograms and demands a strong neck.
Optio helmets also come in a high-cut version, favoured by certain military and police units.
(Image: Ulbrichts)
Optio helmets can also be upgraded to VPAM-6 level at the forehead with an added Fortis plate made from Polytanium.
The helmet is aimed at special police and military forces conducting raids or high-risk entries. It’s already in service with Central European police units and has been praised for comfort and usability.
The Head Comes First
Ballistic protection typically focuses on vital organs, but the head is arguably the most vital of all. Rifle-rated head protection is no longer optional—it’s essential. Without a working brain, the rest of the body is useless.
This is no place to cut corners. Buying subpar helmets is like fitting a high-speed vehicle with bargain tyres. The result? Someone dies. Law enforcement must be given proper funding to equip every relevant unit with modern helmets—especially those that stop rifle rounds.
