European Forces to Wear State-of-the-Art Military Uniforms

[Researcher Guk-sik Lee, Mobile Firepower Research Team 1, Defense Technology Quality Institute] The European Defence Agency (EDA) is set to conduct the final tests of a prototype "Smart Textile" applicable to individual combat systems. Known as Smart TextILE (STILE), this project is supported by the EDA and carried out through joint research by Spain's Textile Industry Research Association (aitex) and Portuguese research institutions CITEVE and INEGI.

STILE is a lining-type bodysuit made with lightweight materials based on nanostructures, weighing approximately 1 to 2 kg to reduce the burden on soldiers. Additionally, the garment is embedded with various sensors for ambient temperature monitoring, body temperature regulation, and biological threat detection. Users can integratively control these functions and remotely monitor the user's condition simultaneously.

STILE incorporates multi-wavelength optical camouflage for static and dynamic environments, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threat monitoring, flame retardancy, water repellency and anti-contamination materials, insect repellent effects, heart rate monitoring, body temperature regulation according to the surrounding environment, and communication functions.

Currently, testing and evaluation of STILE are being conducted in limited laboratory environments. After entering the final phase of the project in July, additional tests considering operational conditions are planned. The EDA intends to showcase the product after the completion of STILE's development in May 2021.