Protect (SDD)

Abstract

The Protect System Development & Demonstration (SDD) Project enhances mission performance and provides effective protection against current and emerging threats by rapidly developing and fielding modernized protection capabilities. Developmental efforts focus on advances in materials and systems engineering to enhance protective properties against a broader array of hazards, while reducing Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) operational challenges and logistical burdens. Developmental efforts focus on advanced medical countermeasures that provide safe and effective medical defenses against biological agents (bacteria, toxins, and viruses), emerging infectious diseases, and chemical agents. Efforts included in this Project are: (1) Advanced System for Protection and Integration Reduction of Encumbrances (ASPIRE) (2) Advanced System for Protection and Integration Reduction of Encumbrances - Enhanced Biological Defense (ASPIRE-ENBD) (3) Botulinum Monoclonal Antibodies (BOT MAB) (4) Collective Protection Conex - Enhanced Biological Defense (COL PRO CONEX-ENBD) (5) Biological Containment Isolation System - Enhanced Biological Defense (BCIS-ENBD) (6) Portable Patient Transport System - Enhanced Biological Defense (PPTS-ENBD) (7) Shipboard Isolation System (SIS) (8) Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems Air (UIPE FOS AIR) (9) Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems General Purpose (UIPE FOS GP) (10) Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems Gloves (UIPE FOS GLOVES) (11) Special Immunization Program (VAC SIP) (12) Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) The Advanced System for Protection and Integrated Reduction of Encumbrances (ASPIRE) program allows near normal operations in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) environment by minimizing or eliminating physical and psychological burden and increasing Warfighter lethality. The ASPIRE program will provide respiratory and ocular protection against CBRN threats. The program will provide the capability to incorporate upgrades into the current ground masks to improve the suit hood/mask interface (HMI) with Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems General Purpose (UIPE FoS GP). In addition, this program, in conjunction with work by Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO), will lay out the strategy and path forward required to minimize the burden to the warfighter while still providing respiratory and ocular protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. In FY25, ASPIRE/UIPE FoS HMI will continue to execute the phases of the Other Transactional Authority (OTA) Contract, perform developmental testing on interface prototypes and conduct acquisition program activities to include engineering reviews and documentation in support of the FY25 Milestone (MS) B decision review. The ASPIRE ENBD is a new start program in FY24 and will support unencumbering warfighters and revolutionizing respiratory and ocular protection against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, including protection from biological, toxic industrial chemicals, and other emerging threats. ASPIRE-ENBD will provide a revolutionized capability to the Services for the next generation of respiratory and ocular protection by developing bio-masks that are low-burden, provide protection against bio threats, and are designed as a reusable system with modularity and/or scalability for additional ocular protection. In FY25, the ASPIRE-ENBD program will continue prototype development, evaluation, and testing for down selection of bio half mask and to inform the ASPIRE program. The Botulinum Monoclonal Antibodies (BOT MAB) program will develop and deliver Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved botulinum monoclonal antibodies to the warfighter. The BOT MAB will be a monoclonal antibody solution that protects the warfighter against exposure to botulinum toxins A and B. This product will do large scale Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the DoD Advanced Development Manufacturing (ADM) facility. In FY25, BOT MAB will deliver a post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) pre-Emergency Use Authorization (pre-EUA) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the positioning of >5,000 doses to the Rapid Acquisition of Products in Development (RAPID) program that could be used in case of an emergency. The Collective Protection CONEX-Enhanced Biological Defense (COL PRO CONEX-ENBD) is a new start program in FY24 and has been renamed the Biological Containment Isolation System-Enhanced Biological Defense (BCIS-ENBD) to accurately reflect the capability and applicability of the system. Funding has been transferred in FY25. The Biological Containment Isolation System - Enhanced Biological Defense (BCIS-ENBD) will provide a negative pressure shelter system for medical treatment of biologically contaminated patients in an Army field hospital environment. BCIS-ENBD will provide a ground-based isolation area for personnel infected or suspected of infection from a biological threat and allows medical staff to monitor and/or treat while decreasing the risk of infecting other patients and staff. This project was funded in FY24 under the Collective Protection CONEX-Enhanced Biological Defense (COL PRO CONEX-ENBD) effort, and was renamed BCIS-ENBD to accurately reflect the capability and applicability of the system. In FY25, BCIS-ENBD will complete concept design, system planning and conduct an initial concept demonstration. The Portable Biocontainment Patient Transport System-Enhanced Biodefense (PPTS-ENBD) is a new start program in FY24 and will provide a biocontainment isolation system to safely transport personnel infected or suspected of infection from a biological threat. In FY25, PPTS ENBD will begin system test and evaluation and develop logistics products. The Shipboard Isolation System (SIS) is a new start program in FY24 and will provide the capability to temporarily isolate or quarantine personnel to prevent the spread of a biological threat and safely evacuate patients for transfer off the ship. SIS will be used on multiple Navy ship types to contain and medically monitor/treat patients while protecting embarked crew and personnel. In FY25, SIS will release Request for Proposals (RFP), award contract for prototypes, and delivery of prototypes. The Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems Air (UIPE FoS Air) program will provide the warfighter percutaneous protection from operationally relevant traditional and non-traditional Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) threats. UIPE FoS Air will improve aircrew performance and survivability under CBRN conditions by reducing thermal burden and bulk, while increasing mobility and resulting in an increase operational effectiveness. The UIPE FoS Air is composed of two variants. The UIPE FoS Air Chemical, Biological, Radiological Layer (CBRL) to address the specific requirements of the United States Air Force (USAF) tactical/ejection fixed wing platforms and the Two Piece Undergarment (2PUG) to address the remaining USAF and United States Navy / United States Marine Corps tactical/ejection seat (rotary wing) and non-ejection (fixed wing) platforms. The Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems General Purpose (UIPE FoS GP) is part of a family of systems that will give the warfighter percutaneous protection from operationally relevant traditional, non-traditional, and advanced Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)/Toxic Industrial Material (TIM) threats likely to be encountered during joint force operations. The legacy chemical biological garment is nearing the end of its service life and does not meet updated requirements. The UIPE FoS GP is a two-piece lightweight (compared to the legacy system) duty uniform-like replacement. In FY25, program will begin Multi Service Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E) and continue low rate initial production (LRIP). FY25 is last year of BA5 funding, program is transitioning to Production and Deployment Phase. The Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble Family of Systems Gloves (UIPE FOS GLOVES) program provides percutaneous protection to the hand and wrist interface of the warfighter against traditional and non-traditional Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. UIPE FoS Gloves will provide improved comfort, tactility and dexterity and for certain mission profiles enhanced touch screen and flame resistant capability. In FY25, the UIPE FoS Gloves program will complete Developmental Testing/Operational Testing (DT/OT) and go to Full Rate Production (FRP) decision. The Special Immunizations Program (VAC SIP) restructures to the Rapid Access to Products in Development (RAPID) program in FY24. VAC SIP continually manages, updates, and executes the Investigational New Drugs (INDs) of selected prophylaxis, treatments and diagnostics development products which provide additional protection to individuals that are at high risk of exposure to CBRN agents. DoD has the mission to maintain IND vaccines in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) storage and to conduct the periodic potency and stability testing of these materials to support submissions to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). RAPID (Rapid Access to Products in Development) an FY24 restructure of the VAC SIP program, will allow access to prototype medical countermeasures (MCMs) that are being developed to differential states of readiness by storing and maintaining data packages and doses of countermeasures. These data packages and doses enable Interim Fielding Capability (IFC), continued development, or transition to other USG partners as a Programs of Record. In FY25 RAPID will continue to employ a tiered system to increase clarity of each MCM's state of development and how quickly/costly it will be to achieve IFC.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: PT5_0604384BP_5_0400_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Critical Infrastructure Protection in CBRN and WMD Threats.

Technology Areas

• Biotechnology
• Space