INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION (EMD)
Abstract
This project provides Engineering & Manufacturing Development Phase and Low Rate Initial Production (EMD/LRIP) for individual protection equipment, with the goal of providing equipment that allows the individual soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine to operate in a contaminated Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) environment with little or no degradation of his/her performance. Included in this program are: (1) The Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) for Tactical (TA), Strategic (SA), and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft are Acquisition Category (ACAT) III programs, incrementally developed with multiple variants for respiratory protection. The JSAM will be a lightweight chemical and biological (CB) protective mask that will be worn as CB protection for most Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine fixed wing (FW) and RW aircrew members. All JSAM variants will be compatible with most below-the-neck (BTN) CB protection ensembles and existing aircrew life support equipment (ALSE). They will include a protective hood assembly, CB filter, blower assembly, and an intercom for ground communication. They will also provide flame and thermal protection, demist/emergency demist, and anti-drowning features. The goal of the JSAM programs is to develop, manufacture, field, and sustain an aircrew respirator systems that, in conjunction with BTN clothing ensembles, will provide the capability for all aircrew to fly throughout their full operating envelope in an actual or perceived CB warfare environment. The JSAM TA and SA respirators are being developed for use in the majority of Department of Defense (DoD) FW aircraft except for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The JSAM TA will provide CB and anti-G protection up to nine times the vertical force (Gz), for aircrew in high-performance aircraft. The JSAM SA will be used in aircrew positions that do not require anti-G protection and provide CB protection for positions that only need pressure breathing for altitude. The JSAM-JSF is a CB respirator being specifically designed to support the F-35. It is designed to ensure that system integration and qualification of CB protection and survivability requirements are achieved as derived from the JSF operational requirements document. Prior to FY15, this project was funded under the JSAM funding line. When integrated with aircraft and pilot mounted equipment, the JSAM-JSF will provide combined CB, hypoxia and anti-G protection to all F-35 users, including the United States Air Force (USAF), Navy (USN), Marine Corps (USMC), and International Partners. The JSAM MPU-5 RW mask is being developed for use by pilots and aircrew in the majority of DoD RW aircraft in the United States Army (USA) except AH-64 users, USAF, USN, USMC, and United States Coast Guard (USCG). The JSAM RW will integrate with most BTN CB ensembles, normal aircrew flight equipment, and rotary wing flight helmets. The system contains a removable face plate, allowing the user to fly "face free" in MOPP 2.5 when the threat level dictates, thereby reducing physiological burden and improving field of view. If threat level warrants, the user can install their face plate into an already donned hood and enter MOPP 4 without removing their flight helmet. (2) The Joint Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM) Advanced Respiratory Protection Initiative (ARPI) project funds the advanced component development and prototypes of an improved filtration and protection capability against highest priority Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) threats, addressing a current and significant capability gap to the operating force. The effort is supported by the Capabilities Production Document for the JSGPM, which outlines the need for a robust TIC/Toxic Industrial Material (TIM) protection capability. It is expected that new capabilities demonstrated through the activities in this project will be leveraged and integrated into future increments of UIPE. (3) The Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble (UIPE). The objective of UIPE is to fully integrate chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) and toxic industrial material (TIM) protection into an ensemble, identical in fit and form to the combat uniform (including mask-helmet integration and protective boots and gloves), thus negating the need for separate protective ensemble components. This integrated protection approach will result in increased Warfighter operational performance in a CBRN environment. The UIPE program will develop, integrate, test, procure and field incremental capability solutions that are modular in function and offer improvements in form and fit over current systems; the program will explore trade-space in areas such as protection level, heat stress, durability, antimicrobial properties, flame resistance, launderability, self-detoxification, and protection time in order to provide capabilities that afford maximum utility to the Warfighter. Where appropriate modeling and simulation tools will be used to lower UIPE program risks, reduce costs, and ensure a high confidence in selected technologies. UIPE Increment 1 is aimed specifically at providing enhanced individual protection capabilities to the Warfighter through reduction of physiological and psychological effects associated with CBRN protective garment thermal burden, weight, and bulk. UIPE Increment 1 achieved MS C approval in June 2013 and is now in the Production and Deployment (P&D) phase. The first increment of UIPE will provide CB protective equipment with improved operational capability to the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- IP5_0604384BP_5_0400_PB_2015
Related Documents
- Root: CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE (EMD)
- Child Accomplishment: 1) JSAM FW - MBU-25
- Child Accomplishment: 2) JSAM TA - A/P22P-14(A)
- Child Accomplishment: 3) JSAM SA - MM53
- Child Accomplishment: 4) JSAM-JSF
- Child Accomplishment: 5) JSAM JSF
- Child Accomplishment: 6) JSAM RW
- Child Accomplishment: 7) JSGPM
- Child Accomplishment: 8) UIPE