'Artificial Blood' Storable at Room Temperature? Why the U.S. Military Is Jumping In

In 2022, during a time when people wondered, "Would Russia really invade Ukraine?" the United States disclosed what it called a decisive clue that war was imminent. It was the Russian military's "blood stockpiling". The U.S. captured intelligence showing Russia accumulating large quantities of blood, which was cited as one of the clearest signs of preparation for an invasion.


This means that a country preparing for war prepares blood first. So, what about the United States now? Today, we are going to talk about "artificial blood," something the U.S. Department of Defense is spending tens of millions of dollars to research.
 
In war, "blood" is just as important as weapons. In particular, the U.S. military identifies hemorrhaging (bleeding) as the leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield. This means that more lives could be saved if the wounded received timely blood transfusions. According to a U.S. study analyzing casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 87% of those killed died before even reaching a medical facility. In other words, the goal is to transfuse blood within what we commonly call the "golden hour" to save those who can be saved.
  This raises a question: Why not just collect a lot of donated blood and send it to the battlefield? However, it is not as easy as it sounds. First of all, blood itself is in short supply because fewer people are donating blood. Even the blood that is hard to obtain must be refrigerated and has a shelf life of only about 40 days. Therefore, DARPA, a research agency under the U.S. Department of Defense, launched a program called "FSHARP" in 2023. Standing for "Fieldable Solutions for Hemorrhage with bio-Artificial Resuscitation Products," the program aims to develop artificial blood that can be stored at room temperature for use on the battlefield.


This is in powder form, not liquid. It can be carried around and then mixed with saline solution to be transfused directly into the wounded when needed. DARPA has invested more than $46 million in a consortium of universities and companies developing this artificial blood, and recently announced that it has confirmed its efficacy in animal testing.
  There are clear hints that the U.S. military is developing this with "actual combat" in mind. Last month, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the combat ships, troops, and budget of the Navy and Marine Corps. During this hearing, DARPA's artificial blood development was specifically brought up.
   
The key point to note here is the phrase "securing the 'golden hour' in the Indo-Pacific." This is the very "golden hour" we often refer to as the golden time. While artificial blood would be helpful on any battlefield, specifically pointing out the Indo-Pacific—where Taiwan is located—suggests that they are keeping a potential conflict between the U.S. and China in mind. In fact, during last month's U.S.-China summit, President Xi Jinping warned the U.S. regarding the Taiwan issue, saying that "mishandling it could lead to conflict."
  If a war were to actually break out in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. military would have to transport troops and blood by air or sea. However, if China blocks the skies and seas, it would be difficult to fight effectively. Since reinforcing troops would not be easy, there would be an urgent need for artificial blood that can be stored at room temperature for a long time, rather than real blood that only lasts 40 days. Furthermore, having witnessed the limitations of aerial resupply in the war in Ukraine, the U.S. military has no choice but to pay closer attention to this issue.
  Last month, the U.S. military moved beyond the animal testing phase and entered its next project, "RAPIID," aimed at clinical trials and mass production. Building on the achievements of FSHARP, the goal is to obtain FDA approval so that it can be used on wounded soldiers in the field as early as fiscal year 2029—meaning after October 2028. Among those who emphasized the importance of artificial blood at the hearing was General Eric Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps, who suffered gunshot wounds in an enemy ambush in Iraq in 2004. A commander who had been on the brink of death due to bleeding on the battlefield praised room-temperature storable blood as a "game-changing technology for battlefield medicine."


It remains to be seen whether the United States can truly change the "game of battlefield medicine." We will have to watch what role this "new blood" will play in future conflicts around the world.
 
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.