Wearing a helmet can get pretty stuffy, not to mention possibly even quite smelly too, but it looks like the army has come up with a solution – a helmet with a built-in respirator. As you can see in the image above, the futuristic-looking helmet is currently a work in progress in the army and it’s essentially a helmet that can help keep its wearer cool and poison-free at the same time. Respirators for soldiers aren’t new, but they are typically rather large and bulky, making it quite a chore to carry around. 

It’s starting to look like the soldiers of the future could almost fight in space. The Army’s latest helmet concept, specifically designed for chemical-biological protection, includes a respirator that keeps the air clean and cool, like a mini air conditioner built right into the mask. It also looks very badass. Well, to be more specific, it looks like a real-life Halo helmet (or a motorcycle helmet). It also looks like the Army really does have a bit of a thing for Halo, since the last helmet update we saw looked equally as inspired by the game. But this new design is all about functionality. Respirators are awesome for helping soldiers avoid breathing poison gas, but they also tend to be bulky and heavy. The technology built into this helmet weighs less and uses less power. A hose connects a blower unit and battery to the mask, which keeps a steady stream of cool air on the soldiers face.