XM44 Experimental Prototype US Military Field Protective Gas Mask

Description

We're thrilled to offer this extremely rare, almost impossible to find and highly collectible U.S. Military prototype XM44 field protective gas mask with vacuum-sealed lenses, hood with integrated second skin, and original carry bag. The mask has only been removed from its factory vacuum-sealed bag to install the second skin and hood for photos. Condition of all items are as shown in photos. Only one available!

The experimental prototype XM44 field protective mask was developed as part of the Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) during a three year period from 1990 to 1993. The SIPE ATD was the U.S. Army's successful initial attempt to apply a systems approach to meet the needs of the 21st Century Soldier. The SIPE ATD demonstrated, in an operational environment, the capabilities that integration of state-of-the-art technologies applied via a Soldier Systems approach could afford the individual soldier. It led to a clear definition of requirements for the dismounted soldier as spelled out in the Mission Needs Statement (MNS) for the Land Warrior (formerly the Enhanced Integrated Soldier System - TEISS). The SIPE ATD demonstrated signficant improvements in the dismounted soldier's ability to shoot, move, communicate, and survive. The SIPE ATD including the XM44 gas mask experimental prototype, was historic in that it focused for the first time on the "Soldier as a System" and represented not only a new way of thinking, but a new way of doing business for the military. At the time, it was recognized that it was essential that the 21st Century soldier reap the full benefits of current and evolving technological advances. The Army could no longer afford to field new technologies in a piecemeal fashion, as add-ons to the soldier "platform", and it was deemed to be intolerable to delay their fielding through long, drawn-out development as had been too often the case in the past. Providing the best possible equipment for the soldier, and ensuring that this equipment is used to optimize operational capability, is what the SIPE ATD was all about.

This is believed to be a 1990-1992 version of the XM44 and accepts any standard 40mm filter (such as the C2A1 filter, not included). The mask, size Medium/Large, has a drinking tube, second skin with integrated hood, and 6-point head harness. The experimental prototype went through several evolutionary developmental changes throughout the SIPE ATD.

Extremely rare, the US Army XM44 is an experimental mask that was crucial in the development of the M45 series masks. It used a sleek, comfortable design and came equipped with a protective butyl hood. When comparing the M40 gas mask and the XM44 protype mask with the resulting M45 mask, the evolution can be clearly seen. The XM44 is very scarce on the surplus market - few were ever made, and even fewer were released to the public.

Features

XM44 experimental prototype US Military field protective mask
Size M/L
Integrated second skin/hood
Accepts standard 40mm filters (not included)
Carry Bag
6-point head harness