Medical C-CBRNE Programs

The Medical C-CBRNE Programs, with a focus on Aeromedical Readiness, aim to enhance the Air Force's capability to provide critical medical care in combat and operational environments. This initiative is designed to improve aerospace medical systems and treatment equipment, ensuring that casualty care meets the global operational requirements of warfighters. The program concentrates on developing and optimizing technologies for ground Expeditionary Medical Systems (EMEDS) and aeromedical evacuation systems. These systems are crucial for treating injured personnel in deployed settings and safely transporting them to stateside hospitals for further care.

A key objective of the Aeromedical Readiness project is to support the development of lightweight, durable, and rapidly deployable medical equipment. This includes innovations such as the Spinal Immobilization Transport Device (SIT-D), pathogen detection capabilities, automated vision testing, and whole blood transport solutions. These advancements are intended to ensure that the Air Force remains prepared for future medical readiness challenges. The program also emphasizes research efforts aimed at optimizing human physiological and cognitive performance for Air Combat Command, as well as developing patient isolation and transportation devices for Air Mobility Command.

In FY 2024, efforts under this program were consolidated from Agile Combat Support into Medical Counter-CBRN to streamline combat support medical readiness requirements. The program is currently in the System Development and Demonstration phase, having passed Milestone B approval. This phase involves engineering and manufacturing development tasks necessary to meet validated requirements before full-scale production can commence.

The acquisition strategy for Aeromedical Readiness involves a streamlined approach where commercial items are evaluated as potential solutions to user needs. This process includes contractor characterization, verification, and qualification testing to ensure that FDA-approved commercial off-the-shelf equipment meets military standards. The program also addresses emerging requirements through minor modifications or traditional engineering development when necessary. These efforts are managed by the Air Force Medical Readiness Agency's Surgeon General Requirement Oversight Council, which oversees capability gaps, research priorities, and related decisions.