DRDO to design Army suits to manage climate

dealwithit

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The DRDO's plan to come out with climate-controlled suits for those serving under minus 35 degree Celsius weather has fascinated retired Army officers who have served in high altitude regions and also in the desert areas of the country.

"If they can produce som-e-thing like that, it will be a big improvement to the climate-controlled clothing that we used during our days," said Brigadier (retd) Mohan Bharathan, who had served the country in the western sector during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Noting that it will be a huge enhancement to the existing special high altitude clothing for the Army, Brig. Bharathan said the instances of frostbite at Siachen glacier would come down with such specialised clothing. Further he said lighter suits would increase mobility and comfort level of the user.

Brig (retd) V.A. Subram-anyam, who had seen varied locations with extreme climates in his long career, pointed out that reducing weight of the dress using nanotechnology would help Army personnel in a big way.

"We cannot stop car--r-ying arms and ammunition. But at least, if the weight of the dress is lighter then it will enable our men to move faster," he said.

Further, he pointed out that that camouflaging the Army suit as per the region would also help in hiding the personnel from today's modern satellite imagery.

"Today due to global warming, there is inconsistency in temperature levels and hence, DRDO's plan to improve snow and desert clothing is commendable," he said, adding that if the suits were stitched in sand colour, it would be very useful for those working in deserts.

"While innovation in defence clothing is important, let Armymen also have the will power to sustain any climate," said Lt Col (retd) Jayakumar, who served at Siachen. Brig. Bharathan added that the Army would never let down people and cited the example of how soldiers produced results at the Siachen glacier whether they had warm clothing or otherwise.

Nano research cum production facilities at Rs 1,000 crore

Chennai: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has embarked on a major mission to develop lightweight composite mat-e-rials to manufacture long-range fighter jets.

DRDO has also planned to set up a nano research and production facility in Hyderabad, Delhi and Kan-pur at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

Speaking at an international conference on nanotechnology on the premises of Sathyabama University here on Wedn-esday, DRDO chief controller R&D (ACE) Dr S. Sundaresh pointed out that the organisation would also come up with temperature resistant-cum-camouflage uniform for military personnel to be put in use in Himalayas and desert regions.

Further, he said the DRDO is focused on the applications of nano technology in various fields of defence in the country. DRDO was also looking into the possibilities of using carbon composites in making military aircraft, tanks and arms, he said. "More particularly, we are also looking into temporary bridges made of carbon composites, which can be set up in just 10 minutes by our armymen."

Replying to a question about the missile launching range DRDO was planning to set up near Machili-patnam in Andhra Pradesh, he said, "It will come up in the next two years. The site is ideal since the missile production units are in Hyderabad and it would be easy for us to transport."

Sathyabama University chancellor Jeppiaar said that the university would soon come up with a nano-umbrella, in which rain water would flow down rather than sticking on to
 

W.G.Ewald

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Cold weather operations are not trivial, and IA must be exposed to more extreme conditions by geopolitical constraints than any other. The US Army Natick lab addresses some of its own cold problems.

Cold Weather Considerations | Article | The United States Army



Once we've identified and assessed the cold weather hazards, we can develop controls to mitigate the severity. The more time a unit spends fighting the terrain and its elements, the less time it has to focus on the enemy. Units must take into consideration the effects of arctic weather and its impact on their personnel and equipment. Proper risk management gives the unit conducting arctic operations an excellent means of identifying and mitigating risks. Leaders must use this tool to be successful in any operation, and the arctic environment will usually render a high on the risk assessment matrix. Prior planning for movement over frozen or icy terrain must not be taken lightly. Units must have recovery assets along with a solid medevac plan.
The majority of the movement conducted in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan comes in the form of air insertion. After completing the insertion, the rest will be done on foot, with Soldiers carrying anywhere from 80 to 100 pounds of equipment. During Operation Anaconda, infantry platoons were not acclimated to the high altitude where they were inserted. As a result, some Soldiers experienced shortness of breath, dizziness, decreased physical performance and vomiting. This can increase non-battle casualties, decreasing the effectiveness of weapon systems and creating problems for unit mobility. Soldiers need to ensure they consume the proper amount of water so they don't become dehydrated and eat at least three cold weather rations. These rations double the calorie intake from a normal Meal, Ready to Eat.
This winter, ensure your Soldiers are prepared. Understanding cold weather and the potential for injuries are key components to overcoming austere conditions and accomplishing the mission.
 

W.G.Ewald

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Cold-Weather Clothing System Increases Survivability, Comfort | Article | The United States Army



With the advent of the Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System, Soldiers are getting the help they need from their equipment. Based on clothing used by mountaineering professionals, the GEN III ECWCS was designed to provide Soldiers with a survivability advantage while operating in multiple cold weather climates and activities. The system represents a large leap forward in providing layered clothing systems based on principles of insulation, layering, and ventilation.

The GEN III ECWCS consists of a 12 components that allow Soldiers to adapt to varying mission requirements and provides a greater range of breathability, environmental protection, and compatibility with Interceptor Body Armor. The GEN III ECWCS system includes a lightweight undershirt and underwear, midweight shirt and underwear, fleece jacket, wind jacket, soft shell jacket and trousers, extreme cold/wet weather jacket and trousers, and extreme cold weather parka and trousers.

Undergarments are constructed of silk-weight, moisture-wicking knitted polyester and polyester grid fleece. The fleece jacket uses synthetic fleece that mimics fur and provides thermal insulation. The wind jacket is made of a lightweight, windproof, and water-repellent material. The soft shell jacket and trousers are made of a highly water-resistant, wind-proof material with high moisture vapor permeability. The extreme cold/wet weather jacket and trousers are made of a waterproof, breathable material for use in prolonged wet and/or hard rain conditions. The extreme cold weather parka and trousers are constructed with loft insulation to provide superior warmth.

The clothing is more compressible, lighter, and more versatile than previous ECWCS systems, enabling Soldiers to adapt more readily to varying mission requirements and environmental conditions ranging between -40 to +60 F.
 

dealwithit

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It is critical for India army to maintain its presence in Himalaya range along the long border..
More soldiers are dyeing because of cold.. It is good step by DRDO...
 
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