AUSTRALIAN soldiers serving in Afghanistan are to be issued with special silk underwear as part of a $5 million uniform overhaul.

The lightweight underwear will be trialled along with armoured outerwear in an upgrade to the combat uniform to improve mobility and prevent shrapnel injuries.

Soldiers received a new, lightweight combat body armour developed by the new Federal Government-funded equipment unit Diggerworks in June.



Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the department would be trialling an extra layer of protective clothing for the pelvic area.

He said the system, already in use by British soldiers Afghanistan, aimed to guard against shrapnel.

"Defence has begun a trial of a tiered pelvic protection system currently used by the British Army in Afghanistan," Mr Smith said.

Originally published as New body armour for war-zone Diggers