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Practical & Tactical: Form
Follows Function To Undermine Threats
Courtesy of DTRA Chemical and Biological
Technologies Department
March 24, 2018
“Form following function" is the modernists’ principle that the shape of something should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose. Unfortunately, that is not always the case when it comes to warfighter uniforms. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department is changing that with their new chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) fully encapsulated hazmat suit, which balances innovation with form and function.
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Currently, warfighters are equipped with the Level A suit, an
off-the-shelf product that was not designed with agility or comfort
in mind. More than 15,000 warfighters are issued the Level A suit
for tasks ranging from laboratory work to deployed missions.
However, it does not address individual skill sets, and the suit is
cumbersome, heavy and hot.
DTRA CB, in collaboration with
the Natick Soldier Research and Development Center and Edgewood
Chemical Biological Center, is developing a new suit, the Tactical
All- Hazards Ensemble (TacHazE), to accommodate the modern needs of
today’s warfighter. TacHazE will offer protection from CBRN hazards
and increase tactical capability.
To identify needs across
services and missions, warfighters were asked to assess their
particular capability needs. Consistent responses are driving the
development of a suit with a tighter fit, longer mission duration,
improved glove dexterity, greater thermal management properties and
better anti-fogging technologies.
The new uniform is more
conformal than the Level A. By focusing on lightweight, novel
materials, new respiratory technologies and new garment design
strategies, such as stretchable barrier materials and new seaming
technologies, DTRA CB achieved a greatly reduced thermal burden
while meeting safety standards of the Level A ensemble. TacHazE also
includes a personal cooling system.
To provide the highest
level of protection from chemical and biological threats, total
encapsulation is necessary. As such, a self-contained breathing
apparatus is required. Researchers are developing novel,
closed-circuit air technologies to provide up to four hours of air
for less than the weight of the existing 30-minute apparatus.
The TacHazE program is expected to transition to the Joint
Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense’s Joint
Program Manager for Protection during fiscal year 2020. By working
across various military units, DTRA CB is able to meet the needs of
all warfighters, regardless of a specific mission set. Using the
form following function principal, TacHazE delivers a practical,
all-hazards suit ensuring warfighter protection from chemical and
biological threats.
Courtesy of DTRA Chemical and Biological
Technologies Department
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2018
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