The Oura Ring is the Department of Defense's not-so-secret weapon

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ZDNET's key takeaways 

• Oura is opening a facility in Texas to serve the Department of Defense. 
• This facility will open next year. 
• Oura Rings will continue to be used in several research studies that enhance soldier performance. 

Wearables were once confined to fitness trackers that counted steps. Today, the devices are crucial research tools for the Department of Defense. 

Smart ring maker Oura is opening a manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to serve its biggest customer, the Department of Defense, it announced on Wednesday. With its facility expansion slated to open next year, the health tech brand cites efforts to advance defense operations across stress management, resilience training, fitness optimization, fatigue risk management, and early illness detection. 

Also: Oura's biggest rivals were just banned in the US

The military might be an unexpected partner ...