--- title: "This is what’s inside the Air Force’s new F-35 Arctic survival kit" description: "F-35 pilots operating out of Eielson Air Force Base are now flying with a brand new Arctic survival kit under their seats" date: "2020-10-29" modified: "2020-10-29" authors: - name: "Jared Keller" job_title: "Former Managing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/f-35-arctic-survival-kit-gear/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Aircraft" - "Fighter Aircraft" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "Tactics" - "Tech & Tactics" tags: - "Commerce" --- # This is what’s inside the Air Force’s new F-35 Arctic survival kit ![]() In November 2019, airmen assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing developed a new arctic survival kit for the F-35A Lightning II that is now being installed among aircraft at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. With a smaller cockpit than other aircraft, the fifth-generation F-35 posed a curious challenge to airmen: exactly how much gear they could jam under a tiny seat. “Due to the smaller size of the seat, we are limited on how many items we can pack in here,” 354th Operations Support Squadron Staff Sgt. Ross Dugger [said in a recent statement](). “Over the years, we’ve worked with \[survival, evasion, resistance, and escape specialists\] to develop this kit and decided what is the most essential equipment needed to survive.” While it’s unlikely that any civilian will need to possess their very own F-35 bug-out bag anytime soon, the Arctic survival kit developed by airmen is still worth examining — and while the Air Force declined to disclose exactly which brands of mil-spec gear airmen opted to include, we here at Task & Purpose have our very own recommendations for aspiring survivalists. Below, you'll find a list of survival gear, each item's 'stated purpose' according to 354th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment technician Staff Sgt. Brian Kline, and a recommendation from the Task & Purpose team. ### One man-life raft Stated purpose: “The one-man life raft provides an immediate shelter for the downed pilot. This will keep him off the subzero ground and protect from the bone-chilling winds in Alaska.” Our recommendation: [**Switlik Inflatable Single Place Life Raft**]() ![]() *The Switlik Inflatable Single Place Life Raft* ### Life raft repair plugs (2) Stated purpose: “A repair kit in case the life raft has holes.” Our recommendation: [**Landfall Life Raft Repair Clamps**]() ### Escape & evasion kit Stated purpose: “This comes with a medical module and a survival module.” Our recommendation: **[Kosin Emergency Survival Kit]()** ![]() *The Kosin Emergency Survival Kit* ### Personal locator beacon Stated purpose: “This will aid in pilot rescue.” Our recommendation: **[ACR ResQLink View - Buoyant GPS Personal Locator Beacon]()** ### Knife Stated purpose: “The knife serves as a way to make kindle. That kindle will be used to start a fire.” Our recommendation: **[Ontario Knife Company Air Force Survival Knife]()** ![]() *The Ontario Knife Company Air Force Survival Knife* ### MK 124 Distress Signal Flare Stated purpose: “The MK 124 Flare has a day and night end. This is used to help aid rescue units find the exact location of the downed pilot.” Our recommendation: **[Orion Safety Products Marine Signal Kit]()** ### Emergency Survival Blanket Stated purpose: “This blanket reflects your body heat and allows you to stay warm.” Our recommendation: **[Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blanket]()** ![]() *Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blanket* ### ESSSS F-35A Version Stated purpose: “Emergency Survival Sleep Shelter System is a seven-piece cold weather system designed to keep the pilots warm at below negative temperatures” Our recommendation: **[USGI Industries Military Spec Multi-Use Poncho/Emergency Tent]()** ### Snow Shovel Stated purpose: “The snow shovel is a piece of sheet metal with a hinge in the middle to allow pilots to clear a path for a shelter.” Our recommendation: **[A fucking E-tool, obviously]()** ![]() *An E-tool* ### Water Storage Bag Stated purpose: “A water storage bag allows pilots to melt snow and have something catch the water.” Our recommendation: **[Ellsang Collapsible Water Tank Container Bags]()** ### Turtle Fur Neck Warmer Stated purpose: “Turtle fur neck warmer is used to keep the pilot’s neck warm.” Our recommendation: **[Turtle Fur Chelonia 150 Fleece Shellaclava Balaclava]()** ![]() *Turtle Fur Chelonia 150 Fleece Shellaclava Balaclava* ### Hot Hands (6) Stated purpose: “Hot Hands are used to create heat in the freezing night temperatures.” Our recommendation: **[Hot Hands!]()** ### AP-25S-5A or AP-25S-5B Stated purpose: “Signal flare is used for signaling and allows pilots to launch a flare in the sky” Our recommendation: **[Orion Safety Products Skyblazer II Red Aerial Signal Kit]()** ### Sea Dye Marker Stated purpose: “Sea dye allows pilots to build some sort of signal with the fluorescent color. This aids in rescue” Our recommendation: **[Orion Safety Products Dye Marker]()** There you have it: the ideal emergency kit if you have to pilot an F-35 at noon but survive in the Arctic wilderness at 5. Enjoy, and be safe! *Task & Purpose staff writer David Roza contributed reporting.* ## Author Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Facebook]() [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]()