Flygstridsdräkt 90, the Swedish Tactical Flight Combat Suit

It should be noted that the Swedish suit -- in 1990 designated VGI/4, for "Ventilerad G-dräkt och Isolerdräkt" = Ventilated G-suit and Immersion suit -- isn't just a G-suit, but rather a "tactical flight combat suit", as it fulfills other requirements too.

Overview

The Swedish Tactical Flight Combat Suit has been developed by FMV (The Swedish Defence Material Administration) and is mainly made by Swedish companies.

The requirements for the TFCS are:

9 G sustained with high onset rate, at least 30 s after 6 G/s and at least 7 G after a gradual (0.1 G/s) onset without anti-G straining manoeuvre
Biological and chemical warfare protection
High altitude protection, including explosive decompression
Arctic climate and cold water survival
High temperatures (fire) protection both in cockpit and on the ground
Air blast protection for ejection speeds up to 600 kt
Thermal protection

Development started in 1985, with the main goal being improved G protection. Two versions were developed, with one selected for production in 1997. The choosen version gives the pilot the option of choosing either a ventilated immersion suit, for use when the water temperature is colder than 12 degC, or a flight suit with the Full Coverage Anti-G Suit being a separate garment. (The version not selected consisted of an air ventilated immersion suit with integrated FCAGC.)

Its main parts are:

Underwear both for hot and arctic climates
Boots with connectors for the leg restraints
Immersion suit, made of Ventile L28/L32 (tightly woven cotton)
Flight suit, made of Nomex Delta C 220g/m2
Full coverage anti-G suit, made of Nomex Delta T/A 200g/m2
Flight jacket with chest bladder, automatically in water deploying life preserver, emergency beacon and connectors for the arm restraint system, made of Nomex Delta T/A 200g/m2
Helmet with oxygen mask with pressure breathing for G-protection
Biological and chemical protection system

The flight jacket is designed by Saab, and it, the FCAGS, the flight suit and immersion suit are made by AB GERMA.

The flight helmet, FFV 116, is designed and made by FFV Aerotech.

Aircraft, JAS 39 Gripen, systems

Anti-G valve with high, 600 l/min, flow. EROS, Intertechnique
Breathing regulator with provision for Pressure Breathing for G-protection
Filtered air suit ventilation, approx 190 l/min
BC-protection visor demist, 10-25 l/min
Warning systems for:
- disconnected G-hose
- low oxygen supply pressure
- low or high oxygen mask flow

FCAGS pressurization starts at 2 Gz and ramps up to the maximum of approx 70 kPa at 9.5 G. PBG start at 4 Gz and ramps up to the maximum of approx 7 kPa at 8.5 G.

TFCS components

Photos by me at Ljungbyhed 1996 Aug 25, so it's not quite the final production version, but with the kind assistance of others involved with the programme I think the information is updated as of 1998.

Helmet FFV type 116

The helmet which is made of kevlar weighs less than 1.3 kg, slightly depending on size, compared with 3 kg for the previous generation. It has a tensioning bladder, dual polycarbonate visors (one tinted) and a high altitude/low profile pressure breathing oxygen mask which is Swedish version of the Gentex HA/LP mask, with anti-suffocation valve and dual microphones.

Fitting the helmet individually for a pilot usually takes between 30 min and 2 hours. Included in the fitting is the shaping of the two visors, one clear and one tinted, to fit snugly over the mask.

The mask doesn't leak with pressures under 55 mm Hg.

The black cloth visor protector is usually left on the helmet when flying, on the back of the head.

Like previous Swedish helmets it's got no chin strap.

Flight jacket

The flight jacket is integrated with the life preserver and has connectors for the the arm restraining system, as well as pockets for an emergeny beacon and other survival equipment.

This photo shows a detail of the arm restraining device. The metal fastener, which is connected to a strap on the ejection seat, is normally at the height of the elbow, kept there by a velcro tab. On ejection, it's pulled free and down towards the wrist, sliding down under a strap also fastened along its length by velcro to the sleeve.

Full Coverage Anti-G Suit

The trouser and jacket are both worn over a regular looking flight suit which has no pockets.

On the near side the white lacing used to tighten the trousers to fit the pilot. It is covered by a zipper. Above that, on the thigh, is a zipper to be unzipped on the ground, to make them more comfortable to walk in. On the inside of the legs are the snap fasteners and heavy duty zipper used when you put them on or take the trousers off.

Previous types of G suits had up to 9 air bladders. This type consists of a single large bladder, making them more comfortable.

Boots

The boots have one set of lacing to fit them to a pilot, and one on the lower part, the upper is normally closed byt a zipper.

They're high and has a cloth pocket on the outside.

Biological and chemical protection

As of 1998 testing of the system is still in progress. FFV Aerotech is developing the system.

Requirements for the system:

not affect the general flight safety and survival requirements
not restrict the aircraft operational limits
be acceptable to the pilots as regards donning, doffing, heat stress and comfort
have a rip off visor to be used in case of emergency
have drinking facility
be spectacle compatible

It consists of a chloroprene front piece with a polycarbonate visor and Gentex HA/LP-PPB mask connected to a C-protection textile collar. The front piece and collar are attached to the outside of the helmet. The visor is continously demisted by filtered air from with breathing oxygen as a backup, from two nozzles.

Background

The Swedish defence forces, FMV, the defence materials agency and FOA, the defence research agency, started studies for a new G-suit in 1980, the USAF started a research project in 1986. Since then there have been constant contact between Sweden and USA and the two projects have been developed in close contact. Swedish scientists have contributed with technical and scientific competency, USAF with research resources and operational experience, for example centrifuges. Both projects resulted in the same technical solution, a totally covering suit with pressure assisted breathing.

Development tests were carried out 1985-1990, evaluation testing 1991-1993 and service flight trials in the Swedish air force 1994-1997. The aircrafts used in the tests have been:

SK 60
Two seat Draken
Viggen
Gripen
F-16

Flight tests have been performed both in Sweden and USA, at Edwards Air Force Base, and centrifuge tests have also been performed in both countries.

Other kinds of tests have been:

climate chamber tests
altitude chamber tests
survival tests in different environments such as water, land, summer and arctic winter
thermal protection tests
rocket sled ejection tests
parasail tests
pressurization tests
materials stress tests

A student pilot shows the previous generation, in use now, of flying suit and equipment: Flygutrustning - text in Swedish, but clicking on the student pilot shows part by part his flying equipment