WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 1, 2010)

Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan will be issued the new “MultiCam” fire-resistant Army Combat Uniform complete with new Mountain Combat Boots and MultiCam-patterned Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, or MOLLE, gear beginning in July.

 

At mobilization sites throughout the U.S., the uniform will be issued to deploying troops as part of the Rapid Fielding Initiative process, and Soldiers already in Afghanistan are scheduled to receive the MultiCam this fall.

The MultiCam uniform, while cut in the same style as the ACU, will have several upgrades including a reinforced seat, buttons on the trouser cargo pockets, be constructed of flame-resistant fabric (like the newer ACUs), and treated with permethrin. 

The decision to field and develop an alternative camouflage for uniforms in Afghanistan came out of the realization that the Army’s current Universal Camouflage Pattern, or UCP, did not meet all of the concealment needs for Afghanistan’s multiple regions.

New Mountain Combat Boots will also be issued to deploying Soldiers, which feature a tougher, more durable sole for gripping the rugged Afghan terrain.

In Afghanistan, Soldiers on a single patrol can potentially go from desert conditions, to wooded areas, villages, and rocky mountain environments. When coming up with a new camouflage color palette, PEO Soldier wanted to be sure the uniforms gave Soldiers a combat edge in each possible terrain situation.

Similar to the Battle Dress Uniform woodland print, the new MultiCam is a combination of seven different shades which “takes in surrounding colors.” A jumble of greens, browns and beige, the MultiCam camouflage presents a solution to Afghanistan’s multiple-region problem.

Beginning in September 2009, four phases of developing and testing new camouflage options were initiated: deciding on alternative uniform patterns, conducting testing and Soldier feedback, choosing a final pattern to produce, and evaluating a long-term plan for the Army Combat Uniform.

First, a unit field-tested the ACU in MultiCam alongside their standard-issue ACUs, while another tested the UCP-Delta, a digital pattern with the added color ‘coyote brown’ for better concealment. When polled, the MultiCam and the UCP-D ended up as the top two choices by Soldiers.

Then, a team representing the U.S. Army Infantry Center, PEO Soldier, Natick Labs, the Asymmetric Warfare Group, Army Special Operations Command, and the U.S. Naval Research Center traveled throughout Afghanistan to gather data on six different patterns including the UCP, UCP-D and MultiCam. They took photos of Soldiers in the six different uniforms against eight terrain conditions. From those pictures, photo simulation was created comparing the uniforms at different distances and settings.

About 750 Soldiers who had recently deployed to Afghanistan were then asked to judge the uniforms in the photos based on their detectability, blend-ability, and rank them from best to worst-the MultiCam was chosen as the best performer in all categories.

So far, three of the four phases of exploring camouflage alternatives have been completed, while the process of making a long-term decision about the ACU, and how big a role the MultiCam camouflage will play is still up for debate.

Seen here with the Atom LT jacket and Alpha LT shell, the new Beta LT pant is manufactured from Gore-tex Pro-Shell. It features an integrated belt as well as 3/4 length zippers to assist with donning and doffing. At 10.6 ounces when combined with the other two items, you get a cold weather package that weighs in at a scant 32 ounces total! Due to this lightweight construction, the entire set up packs down to a size smaller than a basketball. But don’t let the term lightweight fool you. I must admit I was skeptical when I first got my Alpha LT jacket. It felt so light I was worried it wouldn’t stand up to hard use but nothing could be farther from the truth. It is not only extremely well made and very strong, it also moves well with the body. Available in Crocodile sized Small - XX-Large from www.arcteryx.com/leaf.

Jakpak is a modular 3-season sleeping and shelter system consisting of a jacket, shelter, and sleeping bag. While slightly bulky in this configuration, all three components can be stored inside the jacket and quickly deployed for use.

Jacket
The hooded jacket is a simple affair manufactured from an unspecified 2-layer waterproof breathable fabric and features pit zips as well two exterior and one interior pockets. The integrated hood has a visor and pull tabs to keep foul weather out.

Tent
The detachable hooped tent uses two metal rods and covers the head and upper torso. The tent can also be used as a pack cover.

Sleeping Bag
The sleeping bag component is actually of elephant foot design and mates to the jacket via a #5 coil zipper along the rear of the mouth. Additionally, there is an angle two way zipper to facilitate entry and exit. It also allows you to fully expose the feet in order to walk around. While the bags looks to be roomy, there is also elastic at the mouth in order to keep it snug if needed and built in suspenders help support the weight. The bottom of the bag is waterproof and the top is made from an unspecified waterproof breathable fabric.

Jakpak is currently available in subdued two-tone Green shades, Black and Grey, as well as RealTree and a HiViz option for survival use. The mosquito net is Black but looks a dark Grey due to the mesh letting light through. Additionally, since it is based primarily on a jacket, Jakpak is sized XS (34-36) - XL (46-48).

For more info visit www.jakpak.com.

Although its not military camouflage, the latest variation of the Optifade Concealment camo from Gore is still interesting.  Its called “Big Game-Forest” and is designed primarily for hunting from tree stands.

The jacket shown above from Sitka is called the “Incinerator” and is due out this summer.

Thanks to Hardcore Outdoor for this sneak peak.

According to an article in “The Daily Telegraph,” Australian Defense officials are poised to make a cost curbing move that could result in the loss of 400 textile jobs. A special fabric used for combat uniforms is currently manufactured in Wangaratta, Victoria by Bruck Textiles. Those opposed to the move to offshore manufacture claim that not only will the decision affect the Australian textile industry but that the material is a protected technology and that the know how to manufacture it should not be exported. Similar concerns were recently aired in the UK over Chinese manufacture of the newly adopted Multi-Terrain Pattern.

With the Berry Amendment, the US remains one of the only countries with legislation designed to maintain a domestic textile base to support defense requirements.

UPDATE: Word from Australia is that as of close of business Defence had capitulated and that no material will be produced overseas.

A more digital form of the Multicam pattern so it seems... "Now at CombatSportSupply.com X-Camo, a unique multiple environment camoflauge that is affordable, comes in breathable ripstop material and is in the Army Combat Uniform cut style. Set yourself or your team apart from the pack with X-Camo. X-Camo is a Unique Blend of Natural Colors. Very similar to that of early WWII colors. But in a digital pattern. You will see that the X-Camo works in a wide variety of surroundings and environments. This camouflage will hide you better than ANY camouflage on the market."

The American search for, and British selection of, a new camouflage uniform for Afghanistan has been getting lots of attention – but quite a few other countries have been also changing / upgrading their camouflage uniforms in the 21st Century. 

The first big new development was when the Canadians introduced the world to the CADPAT pixelated camouflage pattern, and in effect re-wrote the rule book of camouflage pattern design.  Then the US Marine Corps adopted a completely new style of Combat and Utility Uniform that started an irreversible fashion trend – especially once the US Army adopted a broadly similar style in the ACU, which was then copied around the rest of the world as well. 

Interestingly, although Crye Precision really stirred things up with their radically re-styled combat clothing designs and multi-terrain “MultiCam” camouflage pattern, they’ve not had the wide-ranging impact on the uniform designs of the rest of the world that CADPAT / MARPAT and the MCCUU have had.

Other big influences on the introduction of new camo uniforms have been the ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.  As a result, there have been a whole lot of new desert camouflage patterns put in to service by European countries that don’t have any deserts on their home turf.

Worthy of a special note are the Russians.  Their military and para-military forces have been seen wearing a very wide range of new uniforms and camouflage patterns in recent years – this has led a lot of people to debate about what is “authentic issue” and what’s simply commercial.  The answer is that there is not such a clear line between the two – especially for special operations units, who can augment their “official issue” kit and clothing with privately (or unit purchased) items; particularly camouflage uniforms better suited to the types of operations they perform and the terrain where they operate.

What’s also especially interesting about the new Russian camo patterns is that several of them are based on revamped versions of WWII camouflage patterns – and in the case of the reversible “Chimera” uniform, even of the Waffen SS!  The German retailer W&T Tactical Assault Gear have a particularly interesting and useful page on their site that shows the very wide range of camouflage patterns available on the commercial Russian market: click here.

Looking at all the developments around the world there are some other interesting points to note as well though:   

First of all, the sheer scale of activity in this field over the past few years is quite interesting.  I’ve been a student of camouflage combat uniforms for probably something like 30 years now, and have never seen so much activity or as many new developments as have been happening in the last few years. 

But its not just about “pretty new uniforms”, what’s really cool is how the individual soldier is now more and more being rightfully treated as an integrated, multi-purpose, system and is being given a full range of modernised, focussed, mission-adaptable kit accordingly.  Its nice to see the “cannon fodder” and “bullet catcher” days of the “poor bloody infantry” being consigned to the pages of history at last. 

Secondly, “digital” has clearly become a global craze – and whilst there are many patterns that are simply re-coloured copies of CADPAT, there are also quite a few that are more interesting and innovative. And some which don’t even merit the term.  In the cases of Kazahkstan and Lebanon, they’ve already adopted patterns that are very similar to the US Army’s UCP-Delta pattern now being tested in Afghanistan.

Thirdly, its interesting to note that only the Latvian Army has followed the US Army’s lead and adopted a single “universal” camouflage pattern – but the Saab-Barracuda designed Latvian “Legoflage” is probably a more effective pattern than UCP.  In every other case, countries have chosen the more traditional route of different colourations for different environments.

On the other hand, the French have completely updated the style and features of their combat uniform – but retained the standard CCE camouflage pattern.

Finally, I’ve only included uniforms that are actually being produced and used, even if just in field trials, by military forces.  I’ve not included any that are purely commercial ventures, or that only exist as a design or computer simulation.  I also realise that this article will out-of-date 5 minutes after I publish it, so I’ll be coming back from time to time to keep it up-to-date.

Right, with all that in mind, let’s hit the road for the Strike-Hold! Camouflage World Tour…

AFGHANISTAN 

 

 

 AUSTRIA (trial patterns)

 

BOSNIA

 

 

BULGARIA

 

Air Force

 

CHINA

 

COLUMBIA

 

CROATIA

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

 

ECUADOR 

 

ESTONIA

 

 

FINLAND

 

 

FRANCE

FELIN Trials Uniform

New Combat Uniform

 

 

Mountain Troops Snow Camo

 

GERMANY

 

GREECE

 

JORDAN

Army / Air Force (left), Royal Guards (right)

Civil Defence

 

Customs

Public Security Directorate

 

Navy (left), Special Forces (right)

 

IRAN

 

IRAQ

Police

 

Army

Special Forces

 

ITALY

Army

 

Naval Special Forces

 

San Marco Brigade

Mountain Troops

 

GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)

 

KAZAHKSTAN

 

KOREA (South)

 

LATVIA

 

 

 

LEBANON

Airborne forces

 

 

SEALs

 

MACEDONIA

 

MEXICO

Army

Navy / Marines

 

Police

 

NETHERLANDS

trial patterns

 

PERU

 

PHILLIPINES

Army

Marines

Navy

National Police Special Action Force

 

POLAND

Special Forces

 

PORTUGAL

 

RUSSIA

Army

Border Guards

Special Operations Forces

 

 

Airborne forces

  

GRU – VDV 45th Detached Recon Regiment (thanks to Johannes for these photos)

 

FSB Alpha Group

SERBIA

 

SINGAPORE

 

SLOVAKIA

 

SLOVENIA

 

 

SPAIN

trial patterns

 

SWITZERLAND

 

 

THAILAND

 

TURKEY

 

UKRAINE

Special Forces

 

Airborne Forces

____________________________________________________________________________

 A special thanks to the members of MilitaryPhotos.net and the International Camouflage Uniform Society – too many to remember and mention by name – for providing such a rich source of up-to-date information.  And a very special note of thanks to Brad Turner and his excellent site Kamouflage.net – its well worth a visit.

Now a good addition to the usual North American or European patterns, Royal Tiger Gear now has the Japanese Self Defense Forces pattern for your picking. This is a full Battle Dress Uniform set (blouse and trousers) and also comes with a belt. Available for US$147.00... "Japan JGSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defence Forces ) Camo - four-color camouflage pattern, which comprises black, earth brown and medium green clumps and dots on a tan background.

Features:

• One set for Shirt and Pant
• Brand NEW
• anti Static-electricity treatment on clothes surface
• Fast Dry Material
• This BDU is a unique material and design.
• JGSDF uniform is extremely difficult to get, especially a new one. We got a few set.

Shirt:

• Two Chest Pockets with Velcro closure.
• Left upper sleeves with 3 pen-holder pocket
• Shoulder loop for rank patch / holding beret
• camo tree branches loop ( 4 on each side ) on back of the uniform ( unique in Japanese Camo uniform )
• Button Closure

Pants:

• Comes with a Camo Belt with Metal Belt Buckle
• Front Pockets
• Right Rear Pocket
• Cargo Pocket

Material :

• Polyester 65% Cotton 35%"

We spotted this at Royal Tiger Gear and you might be interested in this Costs US$51.40, shipping costs not yet included... "Brand new set for Shirt and Pant. We sell this pattern of BDU years ago as China PLA imaginary enemy camo , since then the Afghanistan Northern Alliance modified the cutting and use them. Most people called it Afghanistan Northern Alliance Lizard Pattern Camo.

Shirt:

• Upper and Lower Front Pocket
• Button Closure
• Button Adjustable Waist on Back

Pants:

• Front Pockets
• Exposed-Button Cargo Pocket

Material :

• Polyester 65% Cotton 35%"

 

For those of you that missed SHOT, here is the Crye Precision catalog in all its glory.

Crye Precision 2010 Catalog

Please do not contact Crye over and over asking when these products will be available. The more you harass them, the more you gum up the works. They are all expected to hit the market at various points over the course of this year. Special thanks to Ash from MightyTactical.com for getting this together.