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Archive for the ‘Foreign’ Category

Hyde Definition Releases New PenCott Colorways

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Director of Hyde Definition Ltd, Dom Hyde, will be attending this year’s Internationale Waffen Ausstellung (IWA) in Nuremberg, Germany, from the 12th to the 15th of March 2010 which is the second largest trade-show of its type, after SHOT in the United States.

Dom will be visiting companies in the outdoor clothing sector to promote Hyde Definition’s innovative PenCott Multi-Environment Camouflage™ and to reveal additional new colorways addressing arid, mountain, urban, snow and low-light operational needs.

Hyde Definition introduces new colorways for their PenCott Camo pattern

“This show is a fantastic chance to show the industry what we’ve been developing, but I’ve got a lot of leg work to do – the venue is huge and I’m meeting companies from one end to the other across the weekend!” Dom said.

www.hydedefinition.com

New Spanish Camo - MultiCam Ripoff?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

In January we published an article with the purported front runner for the new Spanish camo pattern. Since that article the US Army selected MultiCam for use in Afghanistan and shortly after the Spanish Army announced that they are going to adopt the two patterns below. A simple glance will bring one word to mind and that is, “MultiCam”. it appears, that unlike the UK and US, they wanted to do it on the cheap. Soldier Systems Daily has verified that the Spanish military did not consult with Crye Precision in development of these patterns. Oddly, the Spanish Army is referring to this new camo as “digitized” due to the squared off edges on some of the shapes but they could hardly be considered true digital patterns when compared to UCP or CADPAT.

Spanish Desert Pattern Spanish Woodland Pattern

Quite a few countries have jumped on the MultiCam band wagon. Some have licensed the technology and unfortunately, some have not. StrikeHold! has a great article on MultiCam derivatives.

Aside from the concern over the origin of the pattern the fit seems to be at issue as well. While this new uniform closely resembles the US ACU, apparently Spanish troops are a bit unhappy about the cut of the trousers, forcing them to go “Marcando Paquetorro”.

-Miguel en Canarias contributed to this report.

Fleckcam from Tacgear

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Germany’s Tacgear has released a preview of their upcoming flecktarn based camo pattern. Although the photo is small, the colorway looks surprisingly similar to MultiCam.

Fleckcam from TacGear

Split Front FASTRIG 10-4

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

FASTRIG 10-4 from CP Gear

CP Gear has introduced the Split Front FASTRIG 10-4. It is the first piece of load bearing equipment designed around the Gen III FASTMag from ITW Military Products.

FASTRIG 10-4 from CP Gear - Interior

The FASTRIG 10-4 accommodates up to 8 FASTMAGs internally (4 on each side), however the rig can be setup with as little as 2 FASTMAGs (1 per side and included). As you can see from the photo, these two are needed to suspend the weight of the rig. This leaves the exterior clean for modular pouches(3 rows of 10 channel PALS/MOLLE compatible webbing per side). There is also an interior pocket on each side for stowing maps, documents, chem lights, etc.

Available in a variety of color schemes. To order visit www.CPgear.com.

Arc’teryx Introduces the Beta LT Pant

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Arc'teryx Beta PantSeen 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.

Australian Uniforms to NOT be Made in China

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

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.

RIP Adam Stevens

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Adam StevensAdam, owner of the Israeli tactical gear maker Smamit passed away January 31st of lung cancer. He will be missed by freedom loving warriors the world over who used his gear. Smamit had been around for years and have even graced Soldier Systems Daily with an article on his PaLoop. A veteran of the IDF, he is survived by a wife and two daughters.

Camo the World Over

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Latvian Digital CamoStrike Hold! has put together a pretty comprehensive photo study of the latest camo patterns from all over. Quite a bit of it is digital and in his well put together introduction he makes a good case that the digital craze started by the Canadians has made the biggest influence in international combat uniform design. Take some time to peruse the photos collected from a wide variety of sources. You will also see quite a bit of American influence over pattern selection among allied nations.

French Update Combat Uniforms

Friday, February 5th, 2010

New French Combat Uniform in CCE patternThe French Army has just released a new version of their combat uniform. Based on operational feedback from numerous Afghanistan deployments, the “Tenue de Combat Nouvelle Génération” features a new, rip-stop fabric. Referred to in some circles as the FELIN uniform, as a nod the the French Future Soldier ensemble (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés or Integrated Equipment and Communications Infantryman) it retains the Camouflage Centre Europe pattern currently in use. We have not seen a version released in the desert pattern yet.

The production schedule is quite ambitious hoping to field 365,000 trousers and 265,000 jackets in the first half of 2010.

New French Combats

One interesting feature are the outboard side opening pockets, accessible while wearing armor. These pockets replace the napoleon-style previously used. As you can see in the photo, the patch pockets have slots for magazines. The sleeves now also integrate a Velcro closure. Additionally, the Canadian slotted buttons found along the front opening of earlier versions of the combat jacket have been replaced with Velcro in order to be more comfortable under body armor. The jacket also has Velcro for the placement of various badges. Finally, the trousers now feature a bellows with zipper to ease donning and doffing and the knee and elbows will accept soft or hard inserts.

New French Combat Uniform
Photographs: SCA/ADC Guédon

German Police Women Getting New Bras

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Polizei Bustenhalter

In a move somewhat reminiscent of the Swedish Combat Bra we reported on last year, the German government has been hard at work testing new brassieres for their female police officers. Designed to be worn under body armor, the new bras feature no metal or plastic parts. Apparently, there are three different styles that have been certified for wear. This version features thick pads for protection and a blend of cotton, polyester, spandex and polyamide with no buttons or fasteners which can cause secondary injuries. Additionally, the material offers a certain degree of fire resistance. Already available for issue, British Police women are asking for something similar.