Thousands of combat helmets are to be delivered to the U.S. Army and Navy by 3M company Ceradyne Inc. under U.S. government orders.

A total of 35,000 Enhanced Combat Helmet are earmarked for the Army and 2,500 for the Navy. The U.S. Marine Corps are receiving 77,000 helmets under an order given to the company in the fall of last year.

"The helmet, which is equivalent in weight to current fielded helmets, provides over 35 percent improved ballistic fragmentation protection compared to others currently in use," 3M said. "This means additional protection from ballistic threats that has never before been possible in a military helmet."

The new orders bring the total contract value for Enhanced Combat Helmets and associated spare parts to $107 million.

The 3M-Ceradyne Enhanced Combat Helmet was named one of the 100 greatest innovations of the year last December in Popular Science's 26th annual "Best of What's New" issue.