France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has announced that the combat laboratory of the Army Technical Department (STAT), as part of its mission to identify innovations for the ground forces, is examining solutions to protect individual fighters. Specifically, the study focuses on shields intended for use in trench combat.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in Donbas in 2014, it has become clear that trenches remain relevant in the 21st century. Trenches provide effective protection against artillery, fragmentation and small-arms fire, and they serve as advantageous defensive positions — a lesson that, for many countries and armies, only became apparent after the full-scale invasion.
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At the same time, trench systems are becoming more complex, hazardous and better prepared. Dislodging an enemy from a well-prepared position is a highly dangerous and difficult task; merely entering the position is only half the battle.
Except for dugouts and bends, trenches offer little cover, and it is often impossible to withdraw or take shelter once combat is underway in the trench. This places attacking forces at a significant disadvantage. That is why France is considering reintroducing a medieval-style protective item, the shield, to equip soldiers.
Formally, shields disappeared from regular military equipment in the 15th–16th centuries and ceased to be a common part of a soldier's kit. Although experiments with bullet-resistant shields date back to World War I, their weight, bulk and unwieldiness led to the idea being abandoned.
They reappeared later in the equipment of counter-terrorism units. Contemporary materials and technologies now make it possible to produce ballistic shields within acceptable weight parameters. Nevertheless, such shields remain a specialised piece of equipment.
Currently, France is seeking an operational solution for its ground forces. Published footage shows live-fire tests conducted against a shield from the company KhightShield. The shield was fired upon with a sniper rifle, likely a PGM Mini-Hecate, which uses the powerful .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm) cartridge.
Using that weapon in tests likely reflects an effort to simulate real battlefield risks associated with the prevalence of armour-piercing rounds — threats that are considerably less common in counter-terror operations.
The results of the French trials and any conclusions drawn remain unknown. Beyond ballistic resistance, the more important question is whether such an item can be practically employed in real operations.
If assessments are positive, introducing shields into the army should not be an excessively difficult task — particularly since manufacturing technologies are long established. KhightShield already offers shields of various shapes and protection levels to police and special units in several countries, so turnkey solutions are available.
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