It has been said and written many times over. Soldiers are getting more dependent on electronic devices to be more effective on the field. With all the “Future Soldier” programs being implemented or developed by different countries’ militaries, they all encounter the same problem --- how to power-up and connect all these devices without adding to the weight for the already burgeoning load of the 21st Century soldier.

Power source and network solutions go hand-in-hand so they will need a single solution to answer the problem of weight and portability. For BAE Systems, in its exclusive partnership with Intelligent Textiles Limited (ITL), the answer lies not in creating another layer for the soldiers to use. The answer is to utilize textiles to help power up and connect these tactical devices.

The partnership between BAE Systems and ITL (an e-Textiles developer), is to “deliver the ground-breaking wearable product in high volumes at low cost.” In this case, they have developed the Broadsword Spine, an e-textile based layer that, when added to clothing, creates an invisible “electronic network and power supply, by using conductive fabrics instead of wires and cables.”

With Broadsword Spine, soldiers can readily connect their devices to their combat vests, belts, and jackets and these are immediately powered and connected via the USB ports integrated in the clothing (sorry Apple, no Firewire).

According to BAE Systems and ITL, this solution can result into a 40% weight saving as compared to alternative solutions. 40% is a big number and such weight savings can allow soldiers to carry other essential items to the field (such as more ammo and more food). One added benefit is less worry about carrying different types of batteries that can get lost in the pockets and pouches that dot a soldier’s combat uniform.

Concretely, Broadsword Spine includes a battery pack that rests in the small of the back and fabrics of cables that connect to 8 USB ports that can deliver data links and 180 watts of power. While Broadsword Spine’s battery can be charged from vehicle charging points, there is no indication if it can be recharged via power harvesting technologies being developed for militaries that harness the energy generated by movements of soldiers. But if can be done, then what you get is a complete system that can deliver continuous power to the tactical devices.

Paul Burke, BAE Systems Defence Information and Technology Director within Military Air and Information claims that it is a better and more effective alternative to present systems, "It is the first product of our partnership with ITL and uses its revolutionary e-textile allowing power and data to move through fabric. It will be more flexible, robust and lighter than the heavy, unwieldy harnesses which are currently used. Broadsword Spine offers an open architecture, meaning it could be used to power communications used by anyone from a soldier on the battlefield to a first responder called to an emergency.”

Broadsword Spine is set to begin production with military and emergency services being the target markets.