The Combat Environment Suit is a head to toe air-tight loose fitting suit. It is generally worn open at the neck and wrists. The suit has hard pads at the knees and elbows. It fits tightly around the feet, so standard combat boots can be worn. The hands are covered by gauntlets and a standard issue helmet also has an attachment that can completly seal the whole body.
The undergarment layer is a set of hollow artificial silk mesh long underwear. There are special pads under the arm pits and crotch to draw perspiration away from the wearer. The hollow mesh incorporates a capillary microclimate conditioning system designed to circulate the fresh cooled or heated air over the body.
The undergarment also incorporates physiological sensors that monitor the soldier's monitors respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, internal and external body temperature, and caloric consumption rate. It has a sensor over the wearerfs medical chip. All of this data is transmitted to thesuit computer, and is available on the BCN. Commanders and medics can access the information through the BCN system. If a soldier is injured, the system reports damage, including locations, sizes of the entry and exit wounds, and vital functions and places a distress call to the nearest medical personnel. Medics can start making an assessment before they even get to the injured soldier.
The actual suit is made of multiple layers of material. The innermost layer is an artificial silk liner. This layer also incorporates a capillary microclimate conditioning system, like the undergarment. Following the liner is an insulating layer of a carbon filled aerogel, protecting against temperature extremes and electrical shock. This layer is also anti-microbial and helps to absorb odor. It alsoaids in thermal signature suppression. The next layer is fiber optic and electrical connections. This allows the undergarment to connect to the suit computer. The next layer is a mixteure of charcoal and other chemicals, providing protection against chemical and biological agents. The fifth layer is a 3 sheet thickness of Bioweave. The following layer is closely woven multi-polymer coated fabric, resistant to chemical and biological warfare agents. Next is a layer of fire retardant, infrared, thermal, and radar absorbant material. The outermost layer is simply a thick strong layer of artificial silk. This outer layer is designed to provide visible camouflage. It is designed to be exchanged or replaced in different patterns.
The suit is powered by a 20-watt PEM hydrogen fuel cell which is fueled with two 175 gram hydrogen fuel canisters and a 50 gram reserve canister. With a consumption rate 1 gram of hydrogen fuel per hour, all theee canisters provide the suit with just over two weeks of continuous operation (the main canisters last 7 days, 7 hours and the reserve canister lasts 2 days 2 hours). The 12kg mass includes a full fuel canister load of 3kg.
Suit computer: The stanadrd suit computer has a 16THz main processor, several low-end subprocessors, 16PB of onboard dataspace, two dataports, two datacard slots, and two datachip slot, and a 8x12cm OLED display/interface panel.
The suit responds to voice commands, a wrist-mounted datapad, and a shoulder mounted controller.
The helmet is a clamshell design with overhanging neck protection.
A single voice activated radio enables communication on the MTRN. A small (100 square mm) bone conduction sensor attached to an inner band inside the helmet replaces outdated microphone and earphone technology.
The helmet is also equipped with advanced video and vision technology. Several small cameras (Low light, IR, LI, and the the like) are mounted on the sides of the helmet allows the sending of real-time video via the MTRN radio. Video images can be recievered and viewed through the HUD overlay provided by a pair of tiny OLED over the wearer's eyes. The HUD displays friends, enemies, unknowns and other battlefield features highlighted, tracked and identified (via BCN systems). The HUD can also be adjusted to provide night and thermal imaging vision via the helmet's various cameras. With a BCN connection, soldiers can call up maps, documents or SNPS data on the. Also attached to the helmets are laser signature and rangefinding sensors. These are designed to distinguish enemies from friends when viewing the battlefield through theHUD. (It can also be programmed for a sophisticated version of laser tag for training.) The wearer can spot enemy positions, calculate coordinates, send the data to artillery targeting computers, and display targeting data. The retractable ballistic/laser protective visor protects the face from shrapnel (NIJ level IIA) and integrates a polarizing polycarbonate coating that protacets against laser and othe extreme glare.
The helmet can be sealed with the suit collar, creating a fully-sealed environment that provides protection against biological, chemical, and radiological weapons and dangers. Sensors located on the suit's chest and helmet can detect radiation, chemical and biological agents in the enviroment.
The base armor level of the suit is equivilant to NIJ Level IIIA. With the addition of a standard overvest with boro-carbon ceramic plate inserts plate inserts, vambraces, and greaves, this goes up to the equivalent of NIJ Level III protection. The boro-carbon ceramic plate inserts heavy rigid overvest provides NIJ level IVA protection.
The Camouflage Combat Smock:
The smock is a simple, lightweight, loose pullover camouflage overgarment made of cloth. It's primary function is camouflage, with secndary protective characteristics. It is designed to be worn over the uniform with the webbing and equipement over the smock. It fits something "like a potato sack", allowing for air circulation, items worn underneath, and breaking up the sillouette.
It is made of five layers of material. The first layer is a 1 sheet thickness of Bioweave. The second layer is closely woven multi-polymer coated fabric, resistant to chemical and biological warfare agents. Next is a layer of fire retardant, infrared, thermal, and radar absorbant material. The outermost layer is simply a thick strong layer of artificial silk.
The neck opening is secured with a lace strung through ten eyelets. It has an elasticated waist and adjustable wrists. It is hooded with
raglan sleeves. There are vertical slits in the sides to gain access to the uniform worn undeneath. Chest and pit vents help with air circulation. There are six pockets: 2 on the shoulders (with loops for pens and other items), 2 on the chest, and 2 large lower cargo pockets. The chest pockets have vertical zippers, for ease of access when web gear is are worn. The hood rolls up in the collar and is secured with velcro. There are epaulettes for rank insignia on the shoulders.
It is commonly worn with the waist and cuffs tucked in the elastic giving slightly more freedom of movement.
The smock can be rolled up into a small package. This allows a spare smock to be carried, especially one in an alternate camoflauge pattern.
The smock is reversible, with a different camoflauge pattern on each side: dark pattern on one side and a lighter pattern on the other.
The patterns are theater and season specific. In addition, there are loops of elastic sewn onto the shoulders and upper arms to hold foliage, pieces of netting, and frayed cloth, improveing the effectiveness of the smock's camouflage cover in the field.
Garrison: Field grey
Standard Summer pattern: A six colour digital "pea pattern" scheme, including yellow ochre, pink,
field grey, khaki, olive drab, and dark brown, with greens as the predominant colour.
Standard Autumn pattern: A six colour digital "pea pattern" scheme, including yellow ochre, field grey, khaki, dark, light, and pinkish brown.
Both provide good to excellent camouflage in most field conditions.
Desert: A 6 color day pattern on one side and a night pattern on reverse side. Commonly the "night pattern" smock is worn over a day smock to provide extra warmth as well as camouflage.
Winter: White, with a snowless pattern on the reverse.
