Tuesday, July 18, 2023

[“Military clothing and equipment: escalating global tensions spur investment”]

Textiles
Intelligence
Press Release
January 2023 For immediate release
Military clothing and equipment manufacturers face pressure 
to innovate as the development of advanced lethal weapons 
gathers pace Manufacturers of military clothing and equipment 
are facing mounting pressure to innovate, according
to “Military clothing and equipment: escalating global tensions 
spur investment”—a 51-page report
from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence.

This pressure has intensified as
armed forces worldwide brace for conflict in the wake 
of the war in Ukraine and as opposition forces
make significant advances in the development of new 
technologies and weaponry.

In particular, major strides are being made in the 
development of lethal weapons and surveillance
systems which render conventional military clothing 
and equipment redundant.In response, manufacturers are 
working on new technologies which can provide effective 
protection of personnel, especially during combat—including 
next-generation body armour, uniforms capable of
concealing thermal signatures, and wearable devices that 
can optimise performance.

For example, research into the potential of nanomaterials for use in the manufacture of uniforms which can conceal thermal signatures has shown promise. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, in particular, possess excellent mechanical and thermal properties which enable them to absorb and dissipate radiation emitted by infrared radar systems. As a result, research is being conducted into textile coatings which contain CNTs and graphene.
It is thought that military personnel wearing uniforms 
treated with such coatings could display much
smaller thermal signatures than military personnel wearing 
conventional uniforms.An alternative field of research which 
has shown early promise is the potential of metamaterials in the
manufacture of uniforms. Metamaterials are capable of redirecting 
or bending light and electromagnetic (EM) radiation, thereby 
effectively rendering objects invisible.Global demand for 
such innovations is expected to rise over 
the period between 2020 and 2028 as a result of escalating 
political tensions worldwide and the expansion and 
modernisation of military forces in several countries.

Global tensions are escalating following 
Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine—the largest military
attack on a sovereign state in Europe since the Second World War.
Furthermore, concerns are growing over an increase 
in anti-state activities worldwide and a rise of far-
right terrorism, including an increase in terrorist 
activity in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Despite an increase in demand for innovation in 
military clothing and equipment, significant challenges
will be presented by scaling the production of new 
and complex technologies—not least because of the
high costs of doing so.

Furthermore, there are disparities between, on one hand, 
the desired performance of some technologies
for use in the manufacture of military uniforms 
and, on the other, their availability because of budgetary
and technological constraints. These disparities will 
prove considerable.
Ends.

“Military clothing and equipment: escalating global tensions spur 
investment” is available for purchase
from the global business information company Textiles 
Intelligence and costs £345 (UK), Euro635
(Europe, Middle East or Africa) or US$835 (Americas or Asia Pacific). 
For further information or to
purchase this report, visit:

https://bit.ly/3YasoAO

The report is also available in Issue No 124 of 
Technical Textile Markets. Other reports published in
this issue include: “Editorial: Where will technical 
textiles make a difference in the next ten years?”,
“Technical textile markets: product developments and 
innovations, January 2023”, “Profile of Sensoria
Health: an innovator in wearable medical devices for 
fitness and health care”, “Global technical textiles
business update, January 2023”, and “Statistics: trends 
in production of fibre reinforced composite
materials in Europe, January 2023”.

Technical Textile Markets is published four times a year by 
Textiles Intelligence. Each issue provides
an independent and worldwide perspective on the technical 
textiles and nonwovens industry.
A year’s printed subscription to Technical Textile Markets 
costs £1,450 (UK), Euro2,560 (Europe,Middle East or Africa) 
or US$3,370 (Americas or Asia Pacific). An electronic supplement 
is also available; please contact Textiles Intelligence for 
details. Single issues and multi-report packages are
available on request. 
To download a sample issue of Technical Textile Markets, visit

https://bit.ly/3QVoObp
For further information about all Textiles Intelligence 
publications,
please visit

www.textilesintelligence.com

Contacts:
Emily Burke
Senior Editor
emily.burke@textilesintelligence.com
General enquiries
info@textilesintelligence.com
Tel: +44 (0)1625 536136
Textiles Intelligence, Pentland House, Village Way, Wilmslow, 
Cheshire, SK9 2GH, UK

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