French F1/S1 Helmet

The military paratrooper helmet designated as the French F1 Série 1 (S1) is a steel combat helmet (officially the Modèle 1978) specifically developed for French airborne forces (Troupes Aéroportées or TAP). This type of helmet marks the end of an era; it is the last steel combat helmet produced on a large scale by the French army.

Key Features & Specifications

• Short Production Period: The authentic F1/S1 was produced for only two years, from July 1979 to April 1981, making the helmet highly sought after today.
• Fixed Bales: Characteristic of the Série 1 are the non-movable metal loops on the shell where the chinstrap attaches.
• Material & Weight: The helmet shell is made from a single piece of non-magnetic manganese steel with a thickness of 1.2 mm. The total weight is between 1.2 kg and 1.4 kg.
• The Snap-Button System: The early Série 1 version features a chinstrap that closes with metal snap buttons. This proved dangerous in practice: the helmet could come loose during the opening shock of a parachute or during combat. Consequently, this system was replaced by Velcro starting in 1982 (Série 2).
• Paratrooper Liner: Unlike the standard infantry helmets, the paratrooper version contains an extra foam crown padding at the top of the helmet to absorb heavy impacts during landing.
• Manufacturers: The helmets were primarily produced by the company Dunois (Cousance) and GIAT (Rennes).

Camouflage & Deployment

In the early days, the helmet was often camouflaged with a loose helmet cover (S300), secured with rubber inner tubes. Later, the famous "Salade" was introduced: a reversible plastic camouflage net with a green (spring/summer) and brown (autumn/winter) side. The F1 helmet saw service during the Gulf War (1991, Operation Daguet), UN peacekeeping missions, and conflicts in Chad and Lebanon.

Starting in 1992, the steel F1 series was phased out step-by-step and succeeded by the more modern, lightweight composite SPECTRA helmet.