Polish company SPECOPS has just released these photos of their MBS-1 uniform in two of Hyde Definitions’ PenCott patterns; Badlands and Green Zone.
Polish company SPECOPS has just released these photos of their MBS-1 uniform in two of Hyde Definitions’ PenCott patterns; Badlands and Green Zone.
There’s been little written about HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp’s new Quantum Stealth technology. Thanks to HyperStealth, I have seen a large number of photos in addition to the two that they gave me to share with you. It’s important to note that these are mock ups specifically for use in the media to give you an idea of what the technology accomplishes. Don’t mind the hexagons, those are there to throw you off the trail. The actual technology looks a little bit different when in use.
The ultimate question you are going to ask me is, “Does it work?” My answer is a simple, “Yes,” but I have to say that it still needs some work. While HyperStealth’s Guy Cramer hasn’t made any claims that it’s quite ready for the battlefield yet, it sure does warrant further development. I’m not sure exactly how it works but I’ve got a real good idea and I have to say that simplicity is key to the success of concepts like this. I’m not going to share my specific observations because this is their idea but I will say that it is a passive technology. Sharing too much might put their IP at risk or worse yet, give the bad guys a notion of how to do it as well.
After Facebook Fan “Way Point” offered this one up, we just couldn’t resist.
Yesterday, the Army released a pre-solicitation called simply, “Camouflage Fabric.”
The contents are simple. Notice, the “pattern will be provided” provision. This and the three different patterns on NY/CO with a fourth on 500D Cordura indicate that the pattern down-select is moving right along and the Army is preparing for the next testing phase.
LI 001, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern A (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 002, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern B (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 003, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern C (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 004, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern D (TBD)printed on 500 Denier Nylon Cordura fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
Unfortunately, this is a “Reverse Auction.” Great for known commodities, not so great for new developments. Printing new camo patterns is in the realm of new developments. No one has probably printed these patterns before and it will take some time to get them to render properly. It becomes even more difficult when there is more than one substrate. Different fabrics absorb inks differently. I foresee a lot of developmental work to get these patterns right, so that they will get a fair shake during the testing phase. I hope no one loses their shorts on this one.
According to several internet postings, the accompanying pictures is reportedly of a new camouflage pattern and uniform for the Dutch Army.
Unveiled at a recent Army shooting competition, the garrison and field variants are reportedly to see fielding beginning in 2014 as an extension of the Soldier Modernization Program (in Dutch, VOSS for the English Improved Operational Soldier System). It is anticipated that this variant, intended for woodland and urban environments, will not see any further alteration. The pattern is of the so-called fractal design, which uses patterns within patterns. Additionally, there is an arid pattern under development. As you can see, the Soldiers are in front of a TenCate sign. According to reporting, the uniforms are made from TenCate’s Defender-M fabric, which is the same fabric story as the Army’s FR ACU and USMC’s FROG.
Ever wonder how all of that cool kit you see in the movies gets there? One of the ways is through the efforts of our friends at Tactical Pro Shop. One of our favorite things about Tactical Pro Shop is that they insist on authenticity and won’t settle for knock-off products. What’s more, their work with Director Michael Bay demands the highest caliber of authenticity. His movies might be fiction, but the equipment has to look right. I spoke with Tactical Pro Shop’s honcho, Matthew Kime about their involvement with these films, “Michael Bay hires professionals that, like himself, demand cutting-edge technology and gear.”
He went on to specifically discuss their involvement in “Transformers 3 – Dark of the Moon”, “We started this project in Feb. 2010, so we had to be very proactive regarding where things are heading, plus integrate conceivable pieces of tech that this ‘elite’ unit would have had developed for their mission.”
Above you can see the use of Fastmags from ITW Military Products. This is the kind of thing we are talking about. “Our strong relationship with our brands really helps us accomplish what would be extremely difficult to accomplish otherwise, our film customers really understand and appreciate our ability to get things done,” said Kime when we asked him about the integration of the latest technologies into film.
Here’s another example of this concept. This screenshot from a “Transformers 3” trailer depicts actor Josh Duhamel’s character Major William Lennox in a Chem-Bio suit in the A-TACS camo pattern. Here, Matt Kime describes the choice, “ATACS was an obvious choice when the request came for something that would work well in an urban environment, and the fact that it had not been seen before on film was a big plus.”
Tactical Pro Shop not only works with Hollywood to provide the best and brightest tactical equipment but also offers their services to you. Be sure to check them out.