The US Navy has awarded a $12m contract to the engineering company Wolf Technical Services to design and develop a new restraint system for crew members of both fixed and rotary-wing navy aircraft.

The common mobile aircrew restraint system (CMARS) will allow air crew members freedom of movement within the aircraft, while at the same time being restrained to reduce injuries or ejection from the aircraft.

The CMARS will be developed with several integrated safety features to oppose and mitigate the effects of injury-causing forces during evasive manoeuvres, combat damage, or aircraft crashes by sensing them and locking the aircrew in place.

The subcontractors for the task include Garrity Tool Company, SEP (Software Engineering Professionals), Diversified Systems and Butler America.