The suit went through several drafts in its development cycle, with the first prototype being a jumpsuit designed for wear within the confines of CCM space installations and spacewalks. In 2103 CE, following the commencement of Project Izkhod, an order came down on the scientific institutes from the
Earth CNS. The instructions demanded that a new spacesuit be fashioned to represent
Soyuz, to equip the first colonists reaching out towards
Kitezh. While most institutes came up with various designs and prototypes of potential suits, there was one in particular that was favoured due to its impeccable durability and protective properties - one designed by the Anatoly Zaitsev Polytechnic Institute of Engineering and Material Science, located in Novosibirsk. At the time, this
Zaitsev Type-O IVAS suit paid homage to the old Soviet variants by being vibrant orange, with black and white accents, as well as a distinct ringed helmet mount resting atop the shoulders. Originally on paper, the suit was supposed to have a large red star printed on the back, which would contain the name of its owner in white. This feature was scrapped, due to the similarity with the Walk of Fame in Hollywood; and refusal of Institute administration to allude to CCM citizens being walked on by Americans.
After vigorous testing, said orange glittered around Soyuz spacecraft and orbital installations for the next 96 years, before the suit was put through a military upgrade in the wake of the
Zhōngzhǐ. Anticipating an imminent anti-communist attack from the Zhùlǐ, the Zaitsev Type-O IVAS received padding with domestically produced kevlar and surface carbon fiber shielding. The threat never materialized, but the armour remained. At this stage, the division between a military and civilian IVAS was clear enough to separate into different models of various colouration.
With the introduction of reactive armour technology in the 2260s and established material independence of the
Yasny system, the IVAS went through another redesign. New armour plating was added, giving the suit an unorthodox crystalline appearance; reflected in many other modern Soyuz designs. The same reached the helmet, which was given distinct outer 'jawbone' support, ultimately retaining its domed form. To establish ease of identification, the Zaitsev IVAS were divided into two primary types - Type E for Earth (claiming established colours of the Earth CNS), and Type K for Kitezh (claiming established colours of the
Kitezhan CNS). The underlying jumpsuit design which formed the original Type-O was refurbished to be charcoal/black in colour. A reliable addition for CCM citizens and members of the MoD, some of the suits originally built in the 2260s still protect their owners without fail in 2321.
After the new IVAS suits came into use, most of the Type-O surplus has been modified to be worn by droids. Some of the original suits have remained in families as heirlooms.
