British Navy conducts tests of Jet Suit backpack in naval assault operations scenario


According to a video released by the British Company Gravity Industries, the British Royal Navy has conducted tests with a combat assault team equipped with Jet Suit backpack designed by the British company Gravity Industries, to determine if soldiers equipped with that type of equipment could be used to rapidly swarm and board ships.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link


Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Gravity Industries team has also conducted another scenario with the takeoff of three pilots from the RIB boat performing an assault and landing exercise onto the P2000 Patrol Boat. (Picture source Print Screen Gravity Industries video)


Richard Browning the inventor of the Jet Suit backpack, test pilot and former Royal Marines Reservist has conducted tests over the sea with British Navy fast patrol boat HMS Dasher and a couple of boats to test his jet-powered bodysuit over the water for the first time.

During the test, Richard Browning fitted with its Jet Suit backpack has taken off from a PAC-24 Fast RIB (Rigid inflatable boat) to arrive by air onto a P2000 Patrol Boat. The same day, the Gravity Industries team has also conducted another scenario with the takeoff of three pilots from the RIB boat performing an assault and landing exercise onto the P2000 Patrol Boat. Both trials were successful.

The trials proved that the suit works over a large body of water and that the pilot can land and take-off with relative ease from boats or ships moving at speed – even with the limited space on the upper deck of a P2000 patrol vessel.

These different test flights were followed by the 47 Commando (Raiding Group) of the British Royal Marines exploring Future Commando Force concepts using multi-pilot launches from a RIB boat.

The Jet Suit pack incorporates five miniature jet engines, each providing 22 kg of thrust, with two mounted on each arm and one in a backpack. It allows him to achieve vertical take-off and control his direction and speed of flight by using his arms. The suit comes with a helmet that displays fuel levels, safety performance indicators, and Wi-Fi for ground monitoring.

A man equipped with the Jet Suit backpack can take off from anywhere without any preparation. It can fly at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and can carry enough fuel for about five to ten minutes of flight. According to Gravity Industries, the maximum potential altitude is 12,000 feet (3,650 m). The Jet suit has a weight of 27 kg without fuel.