The Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in India has developed an integrated life support system (ILSS) for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).
The ILSS, which will be fitted on the country’s Tejas aircraft from February 2011, will provide 100% oxygen to pilots in case of ejection from the fighter aircraft.
The system will administer the required quantities of oxygen at varying altitudes to pilots of fighter aircraft on long missions and protect them from losing consciousness due to severe gravity forces.
The ILSS will be equipped with the onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS) to enable the aircraft to undertake long-endurance missions, eliminating the need to recharge oxygen cylinders.
The OBOGS in the ILSS will process the atmospheric air, remove the nitrogen and administer the oxygen to fighter aircraft pilots on long missions.
The Demand Oxygen Regulator (DOR) in the ILSS will ensure that breathing gas is delivered to the pilot as per the altitude requirements and also during anti-G straining manoeuvres.
The ILSS can be customised to suit MiG-29, Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft for their long-duration flights, according to the Hindu.
