The US Department of Defense has awarded Numat Technologies a $23.67-million contract to accelerate the deployment of self-detoxifying chemical and biological protective suits.
The award comes through the Pentagon’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program, which is designed to move proven defense technologies into operational service faster than the traditional acquisition process.
Under the contract, Numat will deliver chemical and biological protective suits enabled by metal-organic framework (MOF) technology to US Special Operations Forces.
Unlike conventional protective gear that primarily acts as a barrier, the suits are designed to neutralize chemical and biological agents on contact while improving breathability and mobility for personnel operating in hazardous environments.
“Over the past 10 years, Numat built the MOF industrial base for this moment, where we can activate an entire supply chain, from material design through high-volume system manufacturing, to protect the warfighter,” Numat CEO Ben Hernandez said.
US Modernizes Soldier Protection
The latest contract is part of a broader effort by the US military to improve protective equipment for soldiers.
In June, the US Army awarded Ohio-based ArmorSource a $17.6-million contract to produce 25,000 Advanced Combat Helmet Gen II systems that offer improved ballistic protection while reducing weight and increasing comfort.
Earlier, in December 2025, Milliken & Company and Numat Technologies partnered to develop a new generation of self-decontaminating fabrics for military personnel and first responders.
A few months earlier, in August 2025, Tetramer Technologies received a $12.5-million contract to integrate advanced MOF bead technology into combat-ready protective suits.
Funded through the Pentagon-backed Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Consortium, the five-year effort supports the development, testing, and evaluation of field-ready chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective gear for US forces.
