Exactly one year ago, Hexonia signed one of the largest contracts for military clothing in Europe with the Defence Operational Clothing System, or DOKS for short.

 

The DOKS project is currently in the verification phase, during which various units of the Dutch Armed Forces, including the army, navy and military police, are testing the clothing system in various operational dimensions. Also the Belgium Navy is testing the clothing system. COMMIT (Commando Materieel en IT of the Dutch Ministry of Defence) is scientifically monitoring the tests, including by surveying the soldiers, in order to gain insights into the optimal design of the clothing system. In addition to field tests in various climate zones, the trials also include tests in a controlled environment, including a size test and a test in which the appearance of the army is assessed. Once the test results have been analyzed, the final design of the clothing system will be determined in the summer.

 

Hexonia increases capacity and is on schedule with project progress

Hexonia was able to deliver the clothing to COMMIT by December, enabling it to start the test phase on time. ‘Delivering the verification sets on time was the most important mile-stone for the project last year. At the same time, we managed to put the project on a solid footing and carefully plan and document processes and measures right from the start – a particular challenge for a project of this size. Fortunately, we have already been able to ex-pand our team excellently and are still in the process of increasing our personnel and pro-duction capacities,’ explains Sabine Albert, Managing Director of Hexonia GmbH. Production at Hexonia is scheduled to start in the summer, with the first clothing items being issued to soldiers planned for the end of the first half of 2026.

 

Advanced clothing system for the Dutch armed forces and Belgium Navy’

DOKS is a modular clothing system developed by Hexonia that consists of over 30 different items. The modular structure of the system enables soldiers to customize their clothing to suit the respective deployment situation. The system includes underwear, insulation layers, weather protection, combat shirts, combat jackets and trousers in various colours and camouflage patterns as well as functional accessories. The layers of clothing in the system are coordinated with each other as well as with the existing protective equipment of the armed forces. DOKS is also characterized by a sizing system developed by Hexonia with up to 35 size gradations, which ensures an optimum fit and good wearing comfort.

 

More information: Hexonia awarded major European combat clothing contract – Hexonia GmbH