Developed for the US Air Force Special Operations community, the SHIELD is an extreme low profile, long duration, hybrid respiratory protection system that allows for both combat and confined-space hazmat environment operations. The SHIELD can be adapted to any hazmat operations requirement. It will work with almost any other required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to include Level A over garments. The SHIELD is entirely modular and is easily adapted to operate for the following military and civil support missions: Tactical-Hazmat, Hazmat-Rescue, USAR, and military Special Operations. Uniquely capable in any of four modes of operation (SCBA, PAPR, APR or SAR) the SHIELD is the lightest and most compact sustained respiratory protection system available. Patents Pending