Military and astronauts[edit]
Militaries of several countries are known to have expressed interest in modafinil as an alternative to amphetamine—the drug traditionally employed in combat situations where troops face sleep deprivation, such as during lengthy missions. The French government indicated that the Foreign Legion used modafinil during certain covert operations.[citation needed] The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence commissioned research into modafinil[22] from QinetiQ and spent £300,000 on one investigation.[23] In 2011, the Indian Air Force announced that modafinil was included in contingency plans.[24]
In the United States military, modafinil has been approved for use on certain Air Force missions, and it is being investigated for other uses.[25] As of November 2012, modafinil is the only drug approved by the Air Force as a "go pill" for fatigue management.[26] The use of dextroamphetamine (a.k.a., Dexedrine) is no longer approved.[26]
The Canadian Medical Association Journal also reports that modafinil is used by astronauts on long-term missions aboard the International Space Station. Modafinil is "available to crew to optimize performance while fatigued" and helps with the disruptions in circadian rhythms and with the reduced quality of sleep astronauts experience.[27]