Royal College of Art reimagines Army combat uniform

A new concept hinting at what the Army’s combat uniform could look like in the coming years has gone on display at the Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 event.

The Future Soldier Vision is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Royal College of Art and is intended to ensure British soldiers carry out their duties with high-quality, cutting-edge equipment.

Researchers and designers from the Royal College of Art worked on the clothing to ensure prototypes were fitted to the body, easy to run in and comfortable to wear.

Kit being currently designed for the concept uniform includes new materials like four-way stretch ‘phase-change material’ and silent hook-and-loop pockets, as well as stronger, more enhanced body armour and a new high-tech helmet with state-of-the- art, built-in communication systems.

Minister for defence procurement Harriett Baldwin said: “You might not expect the Ministry of Defence to work with an art and design university, but it is this kind of non-traditional partnership which will keep our Armed Forces equipped with cutting-edge technology.”

The Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 event was held at the London Excel and is deemed to be the world’s biggest arms fair.