New modular helmet accessory delivers customizable ballistic protection for the back of the head and neck, inspired by centuries of armor innovation and ideal for today’s riot control scenarios
Adept Armor announced on August 19 the launch of its newest innovation: the NovaSteel Helmet Tail. This innovative, modular, and articulating ballistic attachment is engineered to provide scalable protection to one of the most critically exposed areas on the modern battlefield: the rear head, neck, and cervical regions.
Though distinctly modern in construction and performance, the Helmet Tail draws inspiration from centuries-old battlefield armor. Cultures across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East independently arrived at similar forms: segmented, articulated “tails” affixed to helmets to protect the vulnerable nape and upper neck. These were famously seen in the 16th and 17th-century European designs like the zischagge and lobster tail pot, worn by soldiers in the final era of traditional full-armor warfare.
“We’re not introducing a new concept; we’re reintroducing a historically effective one,” said Jake Ganor, CEO of Adept Armor. “The segmented tail has appeared again and again throughout armor history because it works. We’ve modernized the concept using today’s materials and threat data to make it relevant again for contemporary conflicts.”
This proven design principle is reimagined for modern warfare in the form of a modular armor system. The NovaSteel Helmet Tail consists of three interlocking ballistic segments, each of which articulates independently to maintain full coverage while allowing unrestricted movement. Operators can configure the Tail by attaching one, two, or all three panels, depending on mission requirements, terrain, and comfort or weight requirements. It mounts rapidly and securely to standard retention points on both high-cut NovaSteel helmets and ACH-style platforms; no additional hardware or helmet modifications are required.
The motivation for the Helmet Tail is grounded in combat data. While modern combat helmets offer excellent frontal coverage, the rear head and neck remain disproportionately vulnerable, especially in today’s threat environment, where fragmentation from explosives is the dominant cause of battlefield injury. Studies from recent U.S. Military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate that up to 39 percent of all combat-related trauma involves the head and neck, with a growing percentage of wounds occurring at the rear, where explosive fragments often bypass existing armor systems.
The NovaSteel Helmet Tail directly addresses this gap. Rated to stop 124-grain 9mm FMJ rounds at velocities exceeding 1400 fps (V0), it delivers ballistic performance that meets or exceeds ACH Gen II and VPAM-3 criteria, even in high-temperature conditions above 168°F. Backface deformation is minimized, edge-impact resilience is exceptional, and the rigid structure avoids the sagging, folding, and slipping common to traditional fabric-based neck protectors. It also serves as a natural counterweight to front-mounted devices, improving helmet balance.
Designed for tactical and law enforcement professionals alike, the Helmet Tail has particular application in riot control settings, where officers are frequently exposed to blunt-force trauma, thrown projectiles, and melee threats from above and behind. Historical precedents show that the lobster-tail nape armor was favored in exactly these types of engagements. Similarly, the NovaSteel Helmet Tail provides riot officers with deflective, rigid protection that effectively absorbs and deflects impacts against bricks, bottles, batons, and improvised weapons, all while maintaining full mobility, visibility, and compatibility with communication systems, eyewear, and other helmet-mounted gear.
The NovaSteel Helmet Tail is available now for $198 through Adept Armor and authorized dealers. It is a meaningful, evidence-based restoration of a historically effective armor concept, realized with the precision of modern engineering and validated by the evolving needs of contemporary combat and law enforcement environments.
