Parachutists High Altitude Thermal Suit developed jointly with Airborne Systems and Wild Things. Initially, it was developed for a French requirement but refinements were made at the request of Natick and USSOCOM. Offered in XXSmall through XXLarge but its oversized to fit over the jumper’s clothing and basic equipment.
PHATS has been highly tuned for use by free fall parachutists. For example, there are multiple zippered vents so that the jumper doesn’t overheat on the ground or on the flight. Additionally, the front of the PHATS has less insulation than the rear since the parachutist will have equipment on his front. They made this change after jumpers from multiple units found that the insulation could be removed. Where insulated, it features gridded fleece. Additionally, it’s a softshell for wind and weather resistance.
As you can see, it covers the entire body except for the head to accommodate a helmet an oxygen mask. The coverall design even covers the feet for insulation as well as to mitigate wind resistance issues. There is a waist adjustment that is covered by the front opening and the main opening features a flap with magnetic closures. Gauntlet-style handcovers are also integrated into the design. Additionally, the rear of the legs feature clear pouches for chemlights. This allows jumpers to recognize one another in the air. Finally, there is an external forearm pocket on the left sleeve and large zippered cargo pockets.
Tags: Airborne Systems, SHOT Show, Wild Things