Student patents shock suit for police use

A student at the Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI, Faizullojon Khursanov, has received a patent for “electroshock clothing” designed for security forces. The idea is straightforward: combine protective clothing and a self-defense device into a single system.

According to the description from MEPhI, the suit uses the Faraday cage principle, so when activated, the electrical discharge travels along the outer contour of the uniform rather than through the wearer’s body. The patent was registered by the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan.

The proposed uniform is aimed at officers in the internal affairs bodies and the National Guard, particularly those working in situations involving sudden attacks or mass unrest. The current prototype uses a thin copper conductor sewn onto the outer fabric. The set includes a jacket, trousers, and gloves, all operating as one system, with the activation button placed on the jacket sleeve.

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For now, though, it remains closer to an engineering prototype than procurement-ready gear. The next step, according to the inventor, is to build a full sample and then try to move it toward production if it can meet electrical safety requirements.

There are still obvious open questions for routine service use, including:

• weight
• fabric flexibility
• performance in rain
• durability after washing
• behavior under mechanical damage

Khursanov has proposed replacing the sewn copper outline with woven carbon fiber, which he says would make the suit stronger and more comfortable.

The concept itself is not new: police non-lethal equipment usually comes as separate tools such as shields, batons, tasers, and body armor. Axon, the biggest player in the US police electroshock weapon market, builds its lineup around standalone devices rather than clothing. The global non-lethal weapons market is already worth billions of dollars and continues to grow, driven by demand from police, prison services, and private security.

Whether this Uzbek patent can become a practical mass-produced product will depend on testing, especially how reliable the uniform is compared with a standard taser in close contact and in crowded street conditions.