They say war is big business and the saying certainly couldn’t be more on target for any other industry than the manufacturers of flame resistant clothing, such as Carhartt, Drifire, and others.

These companies can trace their roots back to the turn of the century, when the primary focus of their business was on work wear, such as overalls, farming and cattle ranching gear, performance clothing for industrial workers, and similar sectors.

But with the advent of super technology used in warfare also comes a heightened requirement for extra protective clothing, providing top-quality safety features that can provide coverage for the men and women in uniforms on the ground, in the air or out at sea.

DRIFIRE President and Chief Executive Officer L. Gene Cone announced recently this his company is preparing to debut two new military market garments that “significantly advance the state-of-the-art in Air Combat Uniform (ACU) and flight suit solutions.”

Cone says the company has worked closely with U.S. Navy and Air Force uniform specification experts in an effort to develop these garments and that they are “the first in this category not comprised of meta-aramid material, which was pioneered in the 1960s and 70s, and which is currently experiencing a worldwide shortage.”

DRIFIRE’s goal, he said, aims to create a significantly higher standard of safety garment, especially for men and women in combat situations, and that its provider will be making improvements in its clothing line’s breathability, comfort, design integrity, durability, flame resistance, and overall performance.

The flame resistance components, he said, are based on a patented formula that optimizes moisture wicking and drying time, and increases protection layers using a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers.