Many companies have been sending their new kit to Ukraine to try it out under battlefield conditions, including weapons, electronics and drone systems. But how about female undergarments?
Australian newcomer UndaTech has done just that, dispatching samples of its range of fire-resistant and performance undergarments and base layers for use by Ukrainian women special forces medics and soldiers.
“We provided fire-resistant bras, fire-resistant menstruation briefs and also our long-sleeved performance shirt,” said Emily Pyke, UndaTech founder and 13-year Navy veteran.
Most recently, she was named 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Prime Ministers Veteran Employment Awards held in Canberra in November.
Sydney-based UndaTech has developed a range of protective and performance base layers and undergarments for females in defence forces, first responders and emergency services.
“In my 13 years in the Royal Australian Navy, nothing available to me on the commercial market as a woman, has ever been designed to be worn in the extreme conditions of high-risk environments,” she told ADM at the Avalon air show in March.
Most of a year on, UndaTech has actively promoted its products in Australia and internationally, though it has yet to crack the big one of a major contract. That would not appear to be too far off.
Ms Pyke has been busy.
In September, she attended the MSPO Defence industry expo in Poland with Team Defence Australia. Then it was off to DSEI UK in London, and AUSA in Washington where interest was strong from both military and emergency services.
“It went extremely well. Prior to heading overseas, we only had the validation of the Australian market. For the products we are developing, we have recently finished our trials with the RAAF as well as with Ventia female fire fighters,” she said.
“They are looking at how can we better make our female firefighters comfortable and safe. They conducted some hot runs in the products, and we received some really good feedback,” she said.
Ms Pyke said she was always happy to hear positive feedback but also wanted to hear the bad stuff to know where to make improvements.
“When we went overseas, we had people and organisations chasing us down, who were, for instance, developing female body armour, or they were looking at developing female uniforms and wanted to complete the protective ensemble within the female integrated clothing systems,” she said.
“We are now speaking with many more organisations across Australia following our trials, and we hope they will become our early adopters.”
“Generation one of our products are now finalised, with samples being sent for trials across the globe, and we are actively seeking additional avenues to dispatch more products into Ukraine.” she said.
It’s not just female service members or first responders.
Members of Australia’s national women’s rugby union team, the Wallaroos, played in UndaTech performance bras during the World Cup in London – and also provided feedback.
Pyke said the company has identified strong similarities in fit, feel and function requirements between garments for high-performance athletes and the frontline workforce.
UndaTech is also considering performance undergarments for men.
Pyke said they were in the early stages of developing a men’s range, shaped directly by input from a user survey sent to former defence personnel and reservists, asking for experiences and outline the issues faced with underwear out in the field.
“These soldiers are out field for long periods, often in tough conditions, sweating and at times moving between water and land operations. You need support, breathability, antimicrobial properties and protection against chafing. We are working in this space at the moment,” she said.