Numat Technologies Wins $23.67M CBRN Defense Contract

U.S. DoW Awards $23.67M APFIT Contract to Numat Technologies for Next-Gen CBRN Protection Suits 

CHICAGO, United States — July 31, 2026 — The U.S. Department of War's Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program has awarded Numat Technologies, Inc. a $23.67 million initial acquisition contract to accelerate the fielding of next-generation chemical and biological (CB) protection suits for U.S. Special Operations Forces, marking a significant advancement in CBRN defense capabilities. 

Main Development 

The contract, executed in partnership with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), will fund the procurement and fielding of Numat's self-detoxifying, metal-organic framework (MOF)-enabled protection suits — designated MOF CB Suits — engineered to neutralize chemical and biological threats on contact. 

APFIT was established to close the gap between promising defense innovations and fielded capabilities, fast-tracking proven technologies from prototypes into the hands of warfighters years ahead of traditional acquisition timelines. 

Under the award, Numat will supply MOF CB Suits directly to U.S. Special Operations Forces, who operate in some of the most hazardous chemical and biological threat environments globally. The suits offer greater breathability, protection, and effectiveness, providing operators with improved freedom of movement and increased safety in contested threat environments. 

"Over the past 10 years, Numat built the MOF industrial base for this moment, where we can activate an entire supply chain, from material design through high-volume system manufacturing, to protect the Warfighter," said Ben Hernandez, CEO of Numat Technologies. "This contract award reflects our long-term investment in American innovation. Numat will deliver finished, field-ready protective suits at scale, made completely in the United States." 

The award also marks a major milestone for the domestic MOF industrial base, developed over the past decade in partnership with the Department of War's Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)), the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. 

Key Highlights: 

The U.S. Department of War's APFIT program awarded Numat Technologies a $23.67 million initial acquisition contract for next-generation MOF-enabled chemical and biological protection suits. 

• The contract was executed in partnership with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), with suits to be fielded directly to U.S. Special Operations Forces. 

• Numat's MOF CB Suits are self-detoxifying and engineered to neutralize chemical and biological threats on contact, offering superior breathability, protection, and operator mobility. 

• The award strengthens the U.S. domestic industrial base for metal-organic frameworks — a Nobel Prize-winning critical material technology with broad defense and commercial applicability. 

Analyst Insight: 

According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, the global CBRN Defense Market is projected to reach USD 24.87 billion by 2030. The APFIT contract award to Numat Technologies reflects the broader industry trend of accelerating the transition of advanced protective technologies from research and development into operational deployment, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and the growing sophistication of chemical and biological threat vectors. The integration of novel materials science platforms — such as MOFs — into personal protective equipment represents a structural evolution in warfighter survivability strategies. 

Industry Outlook: 

The CBRN defense sector is expected to witness sustained investment as governments and defense agencies prioritize next-generation protective equipment and detection capabilities. The U.S. Department of War's active use of APFIT to fast-track field-ready innovations signals a deliberate policy shift toward reducing acquisition timelines for critical defense technologies. With domestic MOF manufacturing capacity now established at scale, the sector is positioned for continued growth and technological advancement through the end of the decade. 

Source: CBRNe World 

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Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb