The life support system components include:

• An on-board oxygen generation system that supplies breathable air to the pilot.
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  An integrated breathing regulator/anti-g valve that controls flow and pressure to the mask and pressure garments.
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  A chemical/biological/cold-water immersion protection ensemble.
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  An upper body counterpressure garment and a lower body anti-G garment acts a partial pressure suit at high altitudes.
• An air-cooling garment, which is also going to be used by pilots on the Army's RAH-66 Comanche helicopter provides thermal relief for the pilot.
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  Helmet and helmet-mounted systems including C/B goggles and C/B hood; and the MBU-22/P breathing mask and hose system.

Development

The Boeing-led life support development and its suppliers designed the life support system with the F-22's advanced performance capabilities in mind. The separate components of the life-support system must simultaneously meet pilot protection requirements established by the Air Force in the areas of higher altitude flight, acceleration, heat distress, cold water immersion, chemical and biological environments, fire, noise and high-speed/high-altitude ejection.
Escape-system tests have demonstrated that the life-support system will protect pilots when exposed to wind speeds of up to 600 knots. Current life-support systems are designed to provide protection only up to 450 knots. The head-mounted portions of the life-support system are approximately 30-percent lighter than existing systems, which improves mobility and endurance time for pilots. With its advanced design, the HGU-86/P helmet used by F-22 pilots during Engineering and Manufacturing Development reduces the stresses on a pilot's neck by 20 percent during high-speed ejection compared to the current HGU-55/P helmets.
The F-22 helmet fits more securely as the result of an ear cup tensioning device and is easily fitted to a pilot's head. The helmet provides improved passive noise protection and incorporates an active noise reduction system for superior pilot protection. The chemical/biological/cold water immersion garment is to be worn by pilots when they fly over large bodies of cold water or into chemical/biological warfare situations. These garments meet or exceed Air Force requirements.

During cold water immersion tests, the body temperature of test subjects wearing the garments fell no more than a fraction of a degree after sitting in nearly 32-degree Fahrenheit water for two hours. Current cold water immersion tests suits allow body temperatures to drop below the minimum of 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour and a half. Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Other advantages of the F-22 life support system include its ability to fit a wider range of sizes and body shapes.