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Optimal design of military personal protective equipment (PPE) must account for the anticipated activity of the wearer and the environmental conditions. Despite significant advances in defence technology, PPE remains one of the main factors influencing the efficiency, level of protection and comfort of warfighters and/or peacekeepers, particularly under extreme environmental and/or operational conditions. The aim of the present study was to assess the contribution of each component of the Slovene Armed Forces (SAF) desert ensemble (helmet, bullet proof vest, NBC outer layer) to overall heat strain in simulated desert conditions (T=46.1 (0.2) degrees C; RH=20.3 (1.5)%). With the exception of the NBC garment, there was no significant difference between the contributions of the other garment components to overall heat strain. Future developments of desert garment ensembles must focus primarily on a redesign of the NBC garment.