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.
Lockheed Martin's suggestion to upgrade the F-35 with technologies developed for the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter could come in a number of areas, several of which are already in hand.