Mayflower has announced that they will be offering Mandrake, Highlander, Nomad and Yeti Kryptek variants to start off but Typhon will take a little while longer as they get all of the materials assembled. They are already starting to build product and they start shipping in 2-4 weeks for retail orders.
Three Kryptek patterns; Highlander, Mandrake and Typhon join MultiCam as color options for Wild Thing’s customized soft-shell jacket program. All are available exclusively in Tweave’s 520e fabric.
Index Fasteners has introduced officially licensed A-TACS Kydex.
We just received this note from Guy Cramer at HyperStealth. This is huge news for those wishing to produce custom gear with the Deceptex patterns.
We will be selling all 560+ Deceptex patterns on printed light weight 70/30 Poly/Cotton fabric (the cotton is predominant on the inside next to the skin) from our site within the next 2 weeks.
5 yard (x 60″ wide) minimum orders (enough to make a complete uniform)
Deceptex Inks will not work in the IR spectrum.
$17.00 CAD per yard (=$85.00 for 5 yards) + shipping (and taxes for Canadians)
Orders would be accepted in 5 yard increments.
Our dollar is currently right around par with the U.S.I can’t control the cost or time delays with assembly so we are selling the printed fabric direct to the customer.
We will still be offering the completed Deceptex uniforms as we have been.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the US Army is currently looking for a replacement for the so-called Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) currently worn by Soldiers in virtually all environments except Afghanistan. Now, after months and months of silence, PEO Soldier has provided an update to the US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort. I know, this thing seems to be going on forever, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The results of the most exhaustive camouflage testing in history will be briefed to the Army Uniform Board on 28 February.
If you’re familiar with how the Army Uniform Board works, they don’t announce their findings directly from the board but rather later, an announcement will be made once the Chief of Staff of the Army gives his approval. Considering the gravity of this decision, the Secretary of the Army will most likely also give his approval. There is precedent for this. When the Army officially announced the adoption of MultiCam for use in Afghanistan as Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP).
We said that this is the most exhaustive camouflage testing in history and since last Summer the Army has been running the four families of patterns along with baseline patterns through the paces in locations that replicate the nine Military Operating Environments. Over the past couple of months sources have told us that testing was curtailed in two locations due to fires and that the Army had to go back and reaccomplish data collection. The Army wants to make sure that the record is complete and that their decision is based on the data. Consequently, we are told that an independent auditor has been used to verify the integrity of the data. No matter the decision, it will be based on facts so there won’t be any second guessing the choice a year or two down the road.
So when will we see a final Army announcement? Sequestration and continuing resolution notwithstanding, the switch for ACUs, the day-to-day uniform of the Army is essentially cost neutral. It’s a matter of altering contracts to procure the new pattern(s) rather than UCP. The real, long-term sunk cost is in the Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment such as the IOTV and MOLLE. It costs more and lasts longer than a uniform. However, we understand the Army has a few concepts up their sleeve to ease the transition. When UCP was fielded it was all in. The Army essentially transitioned everything to UCP in about five years and issued ACUs to each Soldier gratis. I don’t think recapitalization will go so smoothly this time. The US Army officially adopted the woodland camouflage pattern in 1981. The old OD green fatigues could still be worn until September 30 1987. OD field equipment was still being used up until the advent of UCP. Based on budget shortfalls I would expect serving Soldiers will have to purchase new uniforms with their annual clothing allowance and expect a longer transition period than with UCP. Also, don’t expect any changes to the actual cut of the ACU along with the camouflage change. It will be the same uniform but with an entirely new paint job.
In conclusion, I would say that no matter which family of pattern they select; ADS/Cramer, Brookwood, Crye or Kryptek, the Army will announce its decision when it’s good and ready and not a day sooner.
I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter “P” in this video from Emirates Defense Technology Soldier Equipment.
Congrats Hyde Definition for having your Pencott Sandstorm pattern featured at the upcoming IDEX.
Last year we showed you a glimpse of a developmental Dutch camouflage pattern called Netherlands, Fractal Pattern Green (NFP Green). A photo recently turned up of members of the 104 Commandotroepencompagnie on a training trip to Israel wearing the pattern. However, as some of the unit members were also wearing the Dutch version of 3-Color Desert as well as MultiCam, it would seem that NFP still isn’t a dine deal.
Photo – Korps Comandotroepen
To read more about the 104th’s training in Israel visit www.dutchdefencepress.com.
Thanks Ipkiss
This new shooting mat from Crosstac is a lightweight version of their popular long range shooting mats. Called the Recon, it weighs only 1.2 lbs and is made of two layers of 500D Cordura and rolls to a compact 14″ x 3″ size for transportation and storage. The cool thing about this mat is that one side is MultiCam and the other is A-TACS AU. Additionally, both sides incorporate a channel for your bipod.
www.crosstac.com/product/recon-shooting-mat
