The need for highly functional and safe protective clothing is spurring the demand and use of smart textiles in military uniforms and materials, according to a leading research agency.

The landscape of smart textiles for military and safety is going to expand in the coming years due to the ability of smart textiles to adapt, sense, and react to environmental conditions, which makes them suitable for making combat wear.

The international market for smart textiles for military and protection is expected to grow at CAGR of over 10 per cent during the period of 2015-2019, according to the research agency.

Technologically advanced applications like camouflage in protective clothing, ballistic protection clothing, and highly sophisticated tents and shelters, are some of the end-uses of smart textiles in the military.

However, the use of nanotechnology in making smart textiles for military has received much attention in the recent years. It is because, with the help of nanotechnology, smart fabrics can be created at microscopic level for different functionalities, in order to improve military performance.

Japan, South Korea, the US, Taiwan, China, and few countries in Europe are some of the important players in the smart fabrics markets for military. (HO)