On the battlefield, excess weight can be a life-threatening burden. Nanotechnology and smart fabrics are helping the Armed Forces to reduce equipment weight and improve operational efficiency, says Will Stirling.
A soldier typically-equipped for battle can lug around 70kg of equipment, according to the Ministry of Defence. Much of this is taken up by heavy battery packs used to charge the radio, night vision goggles, satnav and so on. Such bulk weighs the solider down, increases fatigue, reduces motor efficiency and simply creates a bigger…
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