Protective equipment is the general name of personal protective equipment and collective protective equipment. Personal protective equipment refers to the technical equipment used by individuals to prevent the direct injury of radioactive dust, biological warfare agents and poisons, including protective masks, protective clothing, protective cloaks, protective gloves and protective boots. Collective protective equipment is the protective equipment that people use to prevent radioactive dust, biological warfare agents and toxic aerosols. Installed in various underground facilities (such as civil air defense facilities and subways), bunkers, tents, chariots, combat aircraft and ships, there are mainly two forms of filtering and ventilation devices and oxygen regeneration devices, such as poison filters, dust filters, oxygen generators, etc., to ensure the normal activities of personnel under the conditions of nuclear and biochemical pollution.

During the war, our army basically relied on self-made gas masks for protection. At present, our army has a series of advanced and complete protective equipment suitable for the physiological characteristics of the Chinese nation and the needs of various special operational environments. New types of tanks, planes, ships and other main battle equipment, as well as important underground fortifications and bunkers, are equipped with collective protective equipment, which has good "three defenses" performance.

The breathable protective clothing developed by our army is a representative protective equipment. Breathable protective clothing, including hooded coat and trousers, is made of materials that can penetrate air and water vapor, and the total weight is about 1.5 kg. It can prevent the penetration of droplets and vaporous poisons and avoid the contact between poisons and human skin; It can also emit heat and water vapor generated by human body, and achieve the purposes of antivirus, ventilation and heat dissipation. Breathable protective clothing, with protective mask, gloves, boots, etc., can resist toxic vapor and droplets for more than 6 hours, and prevent the penetration of toxic droplets under pressure; At the same time, it has the functions of camouflage, rainproof, flame retardant, light radiation protection and excellent physiological comfort, and can be worn as an ordinary military uniform, which is suitable for officers and men of synthetic troops and ordinary people. As early as 1986, when the head of the China delegation read the academic paper on breathable protective clothing in China, it aroused widespread concern. "Sweden Daily" reported that "this is the first time that China has participated in such an academic conference, and the breathable protective clothing exhibited has aroused extensive interest of the participants. This protective clothing is lighter, more comfortable and more resistant to viruses than the protective clothing produced in western countries". Reuters reported that "China has breathable protective clothing only available in developed countries in the world".