Firefighters at Eglin AFB, Fla., have been testing a new chemical protective suit that would be worn as an undergarment not an overgarment, as is the case now. The new kit would be lighter and more flexible and features a mesh-like design that makes it cooler, said officials. The 16 firefighters in the test went through standard firefighting exercises, including dragging heavy hoses, a 150-pound “victim,” and consecutive trips up and down a ladder.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.