Solar panels help U.S. military protect their bodies

During the ten years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the equipment of U.S. military soldiers has continued to change: fiber underwear, enhanced night vision goggles, and portable solar panels have been gradually equipped to frontline soldiers.

At present, a full set of equipment for a US soldier, from clothes to weapons, includes 73 items, among which high-performance fiber underwear is a highlight.

Since 2004, each soldier has been equipped with a bulletproof vest with an additional protective panel. However, as anti-US armed personnel increasingly use improvised explosive devices, the bulletproof vests of US soldiers have been upgraded to a new type of KEVLAR high-performance fiber protective clothing that can be worn outside the crotch.

Colonel William Cole of the Executive Office of Individual Combat Systems said that in the next two months, US soldiers stationed in Afghanistan will be equipped with tens of thousands of sets of this fiber underwear to help protect the soldiers' lower body.

"If a soldier steps on an IED, it can protect them and reduce the severity of the injury," Cole said.

The Executive Office of Individual Combat Systems, which designs and produces military equipment, said some items can provide better protection for soldiers performing ground missions, while some equipment can help soldiers become familiar with the terrain.

For night combat, the new generation of night vision goggles can give the US military an advantage when dealing with militants and help US soldiers detect the enemy more easily.

In addition, a variety of electronic devices are used in military operations, and once the power runs out, soldiers can charge themselves with the help of portable solar panels.