MOSCOW, November 16 (AVN) - The ordnance crew protection suite designed by the R&D Institute of Steel has passed service tests, the institute's deputy director-general in charge of research, Alexander Yegorov, said on Thursday.
The necessity to develop such a suite arose from the experience in ordnance application in Chechnya, Yegorov told the Military News Agency. Crews of tanks, IFVs and APCs frequently have no time to get out of their vehicle if it catches fire, he noted.
The protection suite consists of a vest, armoured helmet and fire-protective suit, the deputy director said. It weighs a total of 7.3kg.
The helmet is fitted with headphones and is worn instead of a regular tank helmet. Its weight is 1.6kg.
The vest is made of flexible non-flammable ballistic materials and fitted with straps for evacuation of the wounded in case they are unable to get out of the vehicle or tank on their own. It also has special pockets for personal armament and equipment and weighs 1.6kg.
The fire-protective suit comprises a coat and trousers. It can protect a person from open fire for 10 to 20 seconds, which the developers believe to be enough to quit the burning tank, IFV or APC. The suit will have winter and summer variants.