Energy autonomous smart clothing to enhance soldier safety and connectivity in the battleground

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Introduction: The defence and security landscape are undergoing rapid changes. The EU is confronting new, multi-layered challenges and threats, and potential conflicts in its immediate vicinity, arising not only from unforeseen geopolitical developments but also from emerging technologies and new defence domains, such as cyber warfare. While the European continent has experienced a period of relative peace until recently, the dynamics shifted with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the most recent conflict in Israel in the Middle East, disrupting the status quo and setting a new reality for the EU and its Member States (MS). Cyber warfare, misinformation campaigns, and the increasing use of drones and unmanned vehicles are reshaping the nature face of conflicts, necessitating continuous investment in new technologies and solutions to gain a technical, tactical and operational advantage against these evolving threats. Despite critical technological advancements, including robots and unmanned systems, the dismounted soldier still remains an indispensable military asset. Therefore, significant advancements in dismounted soldier systems (DSS) are essential to maximize their effectiveness. Over the years, soldier systems have undergone significant development, particularly in incorporating new technological features to enhance operational capabilities and survivability. With a focus on modularity, interoperability and information superiority, state of the art soldier systems are capable of adapting to multiple operational parameters. They provide unparalleled information and communication capabilities, offer tactical information on the battlefield and can securely interface with various military systems in their vicinity. This approach is adopted by multiple commercial and national soldier systems solutions. National programmes such as the German IdZ-ES (Infanterist der Zukunft) programme and the French FELIN (Fantassin à Équipements et Liaisons Intégrés) programme serve as excellent examples of early strategic investments in new technologies and the advancement of soldier systems. On the commercial side, several state-of-the-art soldier system solutions are being developed by leading defence companies, either through national programmes or independently. Examples include GLADIUS 2.0 by Rheinmetall (Germany), Team SABRE (Soldier, Augmentations and Battlefield Robotic Enablers) by Safran Electronics & Defence Australasia, BAE Systems Australia and Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand, among others. In all cases, modules undergo continuous development and enhancements, complemented by new sensors, technologies and devices, emphasizing the necessity for a hyper-connected, information and data-centric approach during operations. These systems are designed to provide soldiers a decisive advantage in modern combat, where situational awareness and lethality are crucial. In this framework, soldier systems are more dependent on power sources than ever before. This dependence arises from the increasing complexity and sophistication of soldier systems, which integrate a growing number of electronic devices. The demand for power sources is anticipated to escalate in the future, particularly with the integration of future technologies such as 5/6G connectivity and AI enhanced systems expected in the next decade. As operational energy requirements become more extensive and varied, it becomes imperative to adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses battlefield energy efficiency, robustness, security, and readiness. Various technologies will contribute to energy generation solutions, including solar cells, and fuel cells. Additionally, advanced storage options such as supercapacitors or high-power batteries will play a pivotal role, alongside sophisticated management and distribution systems like smart grids and predictive energy management models. The advancement of soldier systems stands out as a priorit y ac