A lot of research is going on and we are paying attention to how the materials are progressing and how they might be used within the army, says Mr Tassinari. With nanotechnology, we can add properties to materials that werent there before, says Dr Sennett.

With nanotechnology, we can add properties to materials that werent there before, says Dr Sennett. The material withstood car engine heat and was cheaper to produce than other forms of highperformance plastic, so it was readily adopted. We are in the early stages of anticipating how nanotechnology will revolutionise army equipment, says Tom Tassinari, scientist with the Soldier System Center in Natick, Massachusetts.

Commercial potential The commercial applications of nanotechnology are of particular interest to the scientists at US Army Soldier System Center Unlike the internet which Dr Mike Sennett, member of the materials science team at the Center, says was developed within the military rather than the marketplace because it had no obvious commercial potential at the time nanotechnology is being deployed in many corners of the commercial sector mean potential corporate partnerships and the possibility of adapting uses of nanotechnology for military purposes. In addition to awarding 8.

In addition to awarding 8. 75 million in research awards to academic institutions conducting nanotechnology research this year, the Department of Defense recently announced its intention to create toptier nanotechnology research centre, the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology.

UK Nanotech future for soldiers Nanotechnology seen as way of protecting troops By Chloe Veltman in San Francisco The soldier of the future will prowl around tropical dangerzone as noiselessly as butterfly landing on leaf, if the expectations of researchers at the US Army Soldier Systems CenterJoint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology Federation of American ScientistsU. S. The scientists say that by combat gear will have evolved so that soldiers will be able to sense an oncoming attack, change chameleonlike to blend in with their surroundings and make temperature adjustments.

By changing the properties of materials, such as by introducing tiny nanoparticle reinforcements into polymers, nanotechnology will enable such advances as making helmets 4060 lighter and creating tentfabric that repairs itself when it rips. Research in the field is already showing tremendous promise. The US Armys budget for basic science and technology research stands at modest 8. 8 billion or 2. 7 out of total budget of 328. 9 billion for FY Future goal For the Army, developments across the commercial sector mean potential corporate partnerships and the possibility of adapting uses of nanotechnology for military purposes.