Air Force Fields Next Generation Aircrew Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protective Masks for Mobility and Strategic Aircraft

  • Published
  • By Dr. Mohamed Mughal and Kevin O'Neal
  • Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Air Force Chemical Biological Branch
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., -- In Summer 2024, the U.S. Air Force completed fielding of an improved aircrew Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear protective mask for aviators assigned to mobility and strategic aircraft.

The next-generation mask, also known as the Joint Service Aircrew Mask – Strategic Aircraft (JSAM SA or M69), replaces the Aircrew Eye and Respiratory Protection (AERP) system on over twenty-four strategic aircraft executing missions including troop transport, special operations, strategic communications, radiological monitoring, cargo transport and aerial refueling.  

In all, the U.S. Air Force, through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), has fielded 27,476 M69 masks to protect aircrew in units deployed around the world.

Compared to the AERP, the new mask provides aircrew vastly improved comfort, reduced physiological burden, and enhanced mobility while retaining ocular, percutaneous and respiratory protection. 

It has lower unit and life cycle costs as well as a reduced training burden on operational forces. 

The mask’s innovative lung-powered demist - which is used for keeping internal surfaces of lenses from fogging up - removes the need for a heavy, battery-powered blower assembly like the one needed for AERP.  As a result, it requires no aircraft modifications. 

The AERP required aircrew to be tethered to aircraft oxygen or have an active blower, the new mask does not require connection to oxygen other than in emergencies.  In short, aircrew now have an upgraded operationally relevant combat capability with a reduced training burden, all at a reduced cost, both from an initial acquisition and from a life cycle sustainment perspective.

In addition to providing units masks, fielding teams from the JPEO-CBRND, and Air Combat Command trained Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) personnel on the sizing, fitting, proper wear, use and Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services for the JSAM SA. 

To date, the fielding teams have trained 779 AFE technicians and 1,829 aircrew. 

“I’m proud of the test and design work that my team has done in concert with our Air Force partners,” said Donald Kilduff, the JPEO-CBRND’s program manager for the JSAM SA Program.  “Together, we’ve fielded a more comfortable mask that provides chemical and biological protection with reduced mission burden.”

“The work this team does is important,” added Lt. Col. Thomas Adams, Materiel Leader of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s CBRN Defense Systems Branch at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. “Putting the mask into the hands of our air warriors, enhances our nation’s ability to maintain air superiority and to fly, fight and win in a WMD-contested battlespace.”