Canberra, Aug 28 (ANI): Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan are to be issued with special silk underwear as part of a five million dollars uniform overhaul.
The lightweight underwear will be trialled along with armoured outerwear as part of an upgrade to the combat uniform to improve mobility and prevent shrapnel injuries, news.com.au reports.
Soldiers received a new, lightweight combat body armour developed by the new Federal Government-funded equipment unit Diggerworks in June.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the department would be trialling an extra-layer of protective clothing for the pelvic area, adding that the system, already in use by British soldiers serving in Afghanistan, aimed to guard against shrapnel.
"Defence has begun a trial of a tiered pelvic protection system currently used by the British Army in Afghanistan. Personnel in Afghanistan will be issued with this protective underwear by November this year," Smith added.
The replacement of the old, heavier combat uniform with the Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS), which will weigh about 3kg less, allows soldiers in combat to adjust the number of layers worn. Diggerworks director, Colonel Jason Blain, said the multi-tiered pelvic protection system would complement the new uniform. He said troops currently wear their own underwear.
Colonel Blain said the ballistic silk underwear, which cost 55 dollar a pair, had been found to be effective in preventing small particles and shrapnel from injuring soldiers.
The second armoured layer, costing 231 dollar each, was designed for soldiers in high-threat environments, he said.
A defence spokesman said three Australian soldiers had sustained wounds to the upper thigh and pelvis region between 2010 and 2011. He also said that soldiers would receive the ballistic silk underwear by October 11, and it would cost about 340,000 dollars.
The second armoured layer, estimated to cost about 500,000 dollars, will be given to some soldiers this month. (ANI)
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