Posted on 08/08/2006 6:17:15 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Army News Service, Aug. 8, 2006) – The Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF) delivered 500 Body Ventilation Systems to heat-stressed Soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait last month.
The portable, lightweight ventilation system will help reduce heat-related injuries, and will undergo one of year assessments by such Soldiers as drivers, military police and machine gunners. Another 1,700 vests will be shipped and issued to Soldiers in similar units and duty positions in upcoming months.
“The BVS project is another example of how the Army culture is changing in order to provide warfighter solutions in a timely manner,” said Col. Gregory Tubbs, REF director. “It also provides another example of how much good can be accomplished when Army organizations like PEO Soldier and the Rapid Equipping Force team to help the warfighter.”
The BVS weighs less than five pounds and can be worn under body armor. Air circulates inside the vest to increase the Soldier’s comfort and performance in hot-dry climates by significantly increasing the evaporation rate.
The BVS has two main components – a Ventilation Unit (VU) and an Air Distribution Garment that looks like a vest. The VU, or blower, is a battery powered fan that can be attached in a variety of positions to meet the Soldier’s need and comfort. The filtered blower system fits neatly into a pouch and is similar to a fanny pack.
“It definitely keeps me cool,” said Sgt. Mark Waits, an M1114 gunner with the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment. “I don't feel as fatigued after a mission in the BVS.”
The BVS operates approximately 8 hours with commercial lithium rechargeable batteries, with a recharge time of 4-5 hours. Filters are the system’s primary maintenance.
"When GlobalSecure approached us with their quick, simple and reliable BVS design, I knew we could work with and count on the REF to get it to Soldiers,” said Col. Richard Hansen, director, Project Manager Soldier Warrior.
GlobalSecure was selected among other vendors for its overall quality and product design, service, timeliness and price.
The Rapid Equipping Force is committed to working with industry and governmental partners such as Soldier Warrior to develop versatile equipment that protects Soldiers and ensures their survivability and lethality.
“If the warfighters need it, then I won’t rest until I explore every option to meet those needs,” said Tubbs.
Keeping Kool in Kombat
Awesome example of someone getting their head back into the sunshine & getting 'er done.
To all
Have it be a completely closed system recycling water and its a freeman suit!
"Tell me of your home world, Usal." (heh heh) Good ideas in Herbert's books.
Considering all the people falling out from heat exhaustion stateside of late this could be a windfall for GlobalSystems if they could reconfigure them at less than $250 per unit on the commercial market.
Make it out of kevlar/carbon composites on the outside... hmmm. Now that would be something. Ballistic and thermal protection. Now, use memory carbon nano-tube filaments as strength enhancers, and weave in fiber optic data conduits and chips, whereas the suit has a built in computer network. Power ed by (again) carbon nano tube photo-electric fibers (solar). The big issue are batteries. But extremely cool stuff.
All aspects of this are in various stages of development. MIT got a $50M grant a few years back for design and development of a new BDU that consists of a number of items I mention above.
Run water through it from the vehicle and you have a mechwarrior's cooling vest from Battletech.
I look forward to the day bin Laden is draped across a saddle.
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