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| GK80 | |
|---|---|
Albanian soldier wearing the early "Type 69" variant of the GK80. | |
| Type | Combat Helmet |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980-present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Myanmar conflict Western Sahara War Sino-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979–1991) Algerian Civil War Houthi insurgency in Yemen Yemeni Civil War (2014-present) Myanmar Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Type 69, GK80A |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1.10–1.25 kg |
The GK80 (Chinese: GK80钢盔) is a Chinese steel combat helmet first developed in the late 1960s. Developed as part of a Chinese military aid package to Albania in response to the Sino-Soviet split, the helmet was initially designated as the "Type 69" and was only issued in small numbers within the People's Liberation Army. An improved design was re-designated as the GK80 and was adopted as the standard combat helmet of the PLA in 1980. The move was part of a PLA modernization program immediately after encountering drawbacks in the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979, when the PLA realized the necessity to modernize its arsenal.
The GK80 in PLA service is being replaced by the aramid construction QGF02/03 helmets.