# Dismounted Soldier Survivability Materials

**R-2A activity** of project BB4 — Dismounted Soldier Survivability Materials  
**Program element:** 0602143A — Soldier Lethality Technology  
**Component:** U.S. Army · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602143A/BB4/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602143A/BB4

## Summary

This activity requests $12.2M in FY2027, 100% of project BB4, up 156% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Will investigate and mature advanced technologies to enhance Soldier survivability by integrating ballistic and non-ballistic protection, blast debris mitigation, flame resistance, vector protection, and environmental protection into textiles and protective equipment; design camouflage and concealment materials identified for extreme material performance opportunities for use in decoy and deception systems, uniforms, and other protection applications; generate counter-aided target recognition (AiTR) patterns via artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), fabricate samples via additive manufacturing, and incorporate designs into direct write process for Soldier-borne applications; obtain material performance data and utilize AI/ML AiTR detection model to optimize patterns in small unit formations.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increase reflects transfer from Program Element (PE) 0602143A (Soldier Lethality Technology) / Project AZ2 (Body Armor & Integrated Headborne Technology) & Project AZ5 (Soldier Protection Technology - Vulnerability) to streamline and optimize the Science and Technology (S&T) portfolio.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Will investigate the impact of incorporating multiple functionalities, such as blast debris protection, vector protection, flame resistance, and moisture wicking into fiber, yarn and fabric constructions on each functionality to balance complexity and functional efficacy; determine the appropriate combination of functionalities at the fiber, yarn and fabric level and validate the design in a garment form factor; conduct experiments on novel fiber constructions for per-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) free fabric treatments; determine the practical limits of power and data transmission through a textile and validate with commercial and military electronic hardware; validate a Soldier/squad level water purification device concept that removes microbiological contaminants and hazardous chemicals with complex, dosed water to simulate contaminated ground water; validate the operational lifespan of a multiplexed water quality sensor as an end of life indicator for water filtration systems; determine efficacy of a camouflage material concept designed to reduce the effectiveness of aided target recognition algorithms and their ability to detect, recognize and identify dismounted Soldiers.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Perform studies to determine the effect of fiber spinning process parameters on the properties and fabrication of engineered fibers; investigate yarn design effect on properties and functionality, and design yarns to enhance multifunctional properties; investigate knitting, weaving and advanced fabric design methods to enhance blast debris protection, vector protection, flame resistance, and moisture wicking of potential military textiles; investigate electronics and programming needed for supporting fabrics with incorporated conductors for power and data; investigate ability to incorporate power and date transmission using commercial sensors; investigate the design and use of a management hub to support power and data distribution within the textile; design and investigate handheld water quality sensors that can measure water quality via more than one indicator (multiplexed); design a single water purification device at the soldier/squad level that combines capabilities to remove microbiological contaminants, hazardous chemicals and salt; investigate novel camouflage material approaches to reduce effectiveness of aided target recognition algorithms and their ability to detect, recognize and identify dismounted soldiers; develop simulated and laboratory-level demonstrators for camouflage materials.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 4.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 4.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 12.2 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602143A project BB4 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*