The French Armed Forces may now monitor its protective equipment in real-time, allowing unrivalled tracking performance and reliability
Having made its mark in the micromechanics industry with its silicon-core micromotor, awarded a Best of Innovation Award at CES in Las Vegas, the French deeptech SilMach has taken a new step forward with its shock microsensors. The French Defence Procurement Agency (Commissariat des Armées) has chosen SilMach’s technology to monitor personal protective equipment such as ballistic plates inserted in bulletproof vests.
As part of this program, christened GMOS, SilMach has been awarded a contract worth a minimum of €3 million, for the delivery of hundreds of thousands of microsensors over the next seven years.
The French Defence Procurement Agency (Commissariat des Armées) has chosen Silmach for its GMOS programme, which aims to equip ballistic plates with a self-monitoring system. This initial award represents a 7-year commitment. SilMach shall begin production this autumn, at its base in Besançon (eastern France), with the first deliveries expected in September 2025.
Pierre-François Louvigné, CEO of SilMach, commented: „We are very proud to see our technologies being put at the service of our armed forces. The shock detectors installed on ballistic protection plates are designed, first and foremost, to protect our soldiers. In a glance, users can assess if a plate’s integrity has been compromised, be it through use or an awkward fall. Thus, by making it easier to identify potentially damaged plates, we are reinforcing personnel safety and improving operational maintenance carried out by the Service du Commissariat des Armées.”
Soldiers deployed in combat zones are issued essential bulletproof protection, consisting of hard ceramic and multi-layer composite plates. However, the intrinsic fragility of ceramic raises the risk of cracking in the event of an accidental fall, compromising the level of protection.
With SilMach’s ChronoMEMS technology, each ballistic plate now contains an ultra-miniaturised, autonomous, energy-free sensor capable of detecting and logging the impact sustained. Through an integrated visual indicator, armed forces can instantly check the integrity of bulletproof protection, ensuring optimum safety for soldiers and reduced maintenance costs.
A unique shock sensor with numerous uses
The ChronoMEMS solution forms the core of a smart and sustainable monitoring approach, enabling precise processing of shock and vibration data.
Among its numerous advantages:
● No need for a power source: Operates without an external power source.
● Reliable and accurate: Drift-resistant technology guarantees accurate measurement.
● Robust: Operational underwater, in space, and not affected by extreme conditions (temperature, pressure, electromagnetic fields).
● Compact and lightweight: The size and weight of a credit card chip.
● Easy tracking: Visual indicator displays information directly.
● Cost-effective: Costs just a few euros per sensor.
A strategic impact on security and defence
For the Armed Forces, the integration of SilMach’s technology into bulletproof protection addresses a crucial need: Real-time monitoring of protective equipment ensures traceability and reliability, boosting soldiers‘ confidence in their equipment.
Pierre-François Louvigné adds: „We realised that shock detection is a common problem affecting a wide range of fields, from aeronautics to consumer goods (helmets, smartphones, computers, etc.) and the logistics of high value-added products. Thanks to the expertise we have developed, with the support of the Direction Générale pour l’Armement (DGA) and the Commissariat des Armées (SCA), we are actively exploring other use cases. Discreet, accurate and reliable, these shock detectors constantly monitor the object on which they are installed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This reassures owners, manufacturers and users alike!”
A true pioneer in technological innovation, SilMach is ushering in a new era in the monitoring of strategic equipment. The scaling of the technology’s production is already attracting interest in various sectors, including defence, security and critical infrastructures.
