Bangkok: Senator Wuttipong has introduced the "Nilmangkorn" shoes, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing the impact of bomb blasts along the Thai-Cambodian border by up to 70%. The prototype of these innovative shoes is scheduled to be delivered to the Second Army Region commander next week.
According to Thai News Agency, Lt. Cmdr. Wuttipong Phongsuwan, who serves as a Senator and member of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, as well as Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Technology and Defence Industry, highlighted the pressing need for the Nilmangkorn boots. The Thai-Cambodian border has been a site of numerous landmine incidents, leading to severe injuries among Thai soldiers. Inspired by technologies previously used during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where similar inventions have significantly reduced leg injuries, this new development hopes to replicate the success through a design adapted from Canadian models.
Lt. Cmdr. Wuttipong explained that the prototype was created using 3D printing technology, with a factory offering free support for the design and assembly. While the current prototype is not yet complete, the team plans to enhance the design by incorporating fiberglass to increase the boots' resilience against blasts. Drawing parallels from the Russia-Ukraine war, the senator mentioned that while many Ukrainian soldiers suffered leg amputations, the introduction of similar protective footwear drastically reduced such incidents.
The senator emphasized that traditional military boots often result in severe injuries or amputations when exposed to bomb blasts. In contrast, the Nilmangkorn boots, designed with elevated soles, aim to minimize injuries to minor ones. This innovation is expected to provide a significant morale boost to Thai soldiers while potentially deterring further landmine placements by Cambodian forces. Once finalized, the design will be made available for mass production by several ready and willing factories. The completed prototypes will undergo further testing in the Second Army Area upon delivery next week.