The Next Generation Aircrew Protection team has completed a six-month vapor purge testing program on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, marking a shift toward evaluating mobility aircraft for chemical defense capabilities.

• The testing, conducted from June 24 to December 6, 2024, assessed how quickly the aircraft could purge harmful chemical vapors and evaluated the effectiveness of standard aircraft systems in protecting aircrews during chemical vapor attacks.

“With the evolving and ever-changing war environment, testing how quickly vapor can be purged from an aircraft, and how protective non-CBRN equipment can be is a key asset to every element of the Department of Defense,” said Justin Sperling, an NGAP test engineer. “This includes our special operators.”

The process involves a pre-flight spray application, followed by installing sensors inside the aircraft. NGAP team members monitor simulant vapor levels until reaching a target concentration. Data collection continues during flight as the aircraft purges the simulant.

While NGAP has historically focused on fighter and bomber aircraft, the AC-130J testing represents an expansion into mobility aircraft evaluation. Lt. Michael Rossi, Lead Joint CBRN Aircrew Protection Engineer at the Air Force CBRN Defense Systems Branch, noted the significance of Air Force Special Operations Command’s involvement.

• “Air Force Special Operations Command is known for being the first to jump at innovative tactics, and working with the NGAP team was no exception,” Rossi said. “This directly contributes to development of next-generation equipment and feeds into new concepts of legacy equipment.”

The collected data will be published in a report on the Defense Technical Information Center, informing the development of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear protective gear and aircrew guidelines across the Department of Defense.

“Without this information, we would have to rely on older assumptions that aren’t representative of what the threat is today,” Rossi said. “This information is helpful to AFSOC because it helps accurately plan for their CBRN operations.”

The testing helps determine when aircrews can safely remove chemical protective gear during attacks, reducing equipment burden while maintaining mission focus, according to Sperling.