Two new patterns have been specifically optimized for arid “PenCott-Sandstorm†and semi-arid terrain “PenCott-Badlands†joining the original PenCott-GreenZone pattern. These areas are the most common and most likely operational environments for military assistance and special operations forces.
PenCott’s unique digital fractal design dithers four terrain-optimized contrasting colors to create a combination of soft, blended and hard edges for a more natural-looking texture, and the illusion of a wider spectrum of color tones. This makes it harder for the human eye to process, and recognizable shapes become more difficult to detect and recognize.
Additionally, Hyde Definition has revised their licensing rates to make it even easier for companies to produce their own clothing and equipment designs in the PenCott camouflage pattern. Contact Dom Hyde for further details.
Swedish brand Tac-Up Gear has just introduced their Expeditionary Air Wing Scarf in both M-90 and M-90 K Desert. Sized at 1 meter x 1 meter, the EAW Scarf is so sheer you can see right through it if you use it as a base for a scrim net.
Posted in Camo, Clothing, Foreign | Comments Off on EAW Scarves from Tac-Up Gear
Could the recent Sources Sought Notice from Natick for Camouflage Patterns, Concepts and Design/Analysis Tools be in support of the Army’s fabled Phase IV of their camouflage plan? We hear that so far only a few companies have ponied up and this has prompted Natick’s Multifunctional Materials Team, Warfighter Science, Technology and Research Directorate to extend the deadline from May 28th until June 18th. Interested parties should check out the Sources Sought Notice and respond if you have something of interest. Now is the time to stand up and be counted.
Apparently, whatever the final plan is for Phase IV it is supposed to be on the Chief of Staff of the Army’s desk by 14 November and word has it that the Army-wide adoption of MultiCam will be one of the courses of action. At this point, it is the path of least resistance since to do nothing and retain UCP would meet a great deal of operational resistance based on several rounds of testing. Additionally, industry is beginning to energize a supply chain for MultiCam that can be further ramped up to meet increased demand. We fully support the continued development of more advanced patterns but MultiCam increases capability immediately. What’s more we would like to see the Air Force adopt MultiCam at least for deployed forces.
Tags: Natick Posted in Camo, Contracts, Multicam | Comments Off on Camouflage Patterns, Concepts and Design/Analysis Tools
Additionally, here are some recent comments from the House Armed Services Committee:
Ground combat uniform research and development Section 352 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84) established, as a policy of the United States, that the design and fielding of all future ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms of the armed forces may uniquely reflect the identity of the individual military services, provided that the ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms, to the maximum extent practicable:
(1) provide members of every military service an equivalent level of performance, functionality, and protection commensurate with their respective assigned combat missions;
(2) minimize risk to the individual soldier, sailor, airman, or marine operating in the joint battlespace; and
(3) provide interoperability with other components of individual war fighter systems, including body armor and other individual protective systems.
The committee notes that part of the rationale for section 352 of Public Law 111–84 was to reduce the multiple research, design, development, and fielding efforts for military ground combat uniforms being undertaken by the military departments and to improve the overall combat capability of those assigned to ground combat missions.
In an interim response to section 352 of Public Law 111–84, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found no performance standards for specific combat environments, no criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of camouflage patterns, and no requirements for the services to test interoperability between their uniforms and other protective gear. Furthermore, while GAO found some examples of uniform technology being shared across the services, the committee emphasizes the importance of sharing new technologies, advanced materials, and other advances in ground combat uniform design and development between the military services. The committee notes that some of the military departments have used the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center during development of their ground combat uniforms to test the effectiveness of the camouflage, and, in some cases, camouflage effectiveness of ground combat uniforms and protective gear. The committee believes, however, that Natick’s resources could be better utilized for joint research and development. Because of its expertise, the committee urges the services to consider expanding their use of the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center as a center of excellence for uniform research and development to guide their development of camouflage effectiveness and performance criteria and testing.
Additionally, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to consider designating an executive agent (EA) to oversee Department of Defense activities related to research and development of ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms. The committee envisions that such an EA would be similar to the functions performed by the executive agent for operation of the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Program.
Overall, not a whole lot of shocking news here but lots of good costing data has been provided. However, check out the second bullet on slide 33 of the GAO document. A bit of a surprise there. Also, of interest is slide 45 which shows the new Navy Type II and III camo based on the AOR patterns.
Posted in Camo, Congress | Comments Off on Update on the Congressional Fascination with Camo
This is very exciting news for large businesses as well as the Do-It-Yourselfer. After many months of stage two development on A-TACS and further enhancement of the printing technology behind the pattern, Digital Concealment Systems has announced that Berry compliant A-TACS Nylon Cordura, Nylon webbing, and Hook and Loop is now available for purchase.
In an exclusive partnership, A-TACS Nylon Cordura is now available for worldwide distribution through LC Industries. As a result of this distribution deal, production-ready fabrics can be purchased in quantities as low as 5 yards which will enable a wide range of specialized gear manufacturers to begin producing product without the need to carry heavy fabric inventory.
Fabric will be available in 330D, 500D and 1,000D weights with urethane backing and DWR treated face. For additional information, pricing or to place an order, please call Julie Kammerer or Susan Fields with LCI / TAG at 1-888-890-1199.
A-TACS nylon webbing and bindings are now available exclusively hrough Texcel, Inc. in a variety of specifications ranging from three-quarter inch to three inch widths. For ordering information and pricing, please contact John Pinkos at 401-727-2113.
To complete the A-TACS total concealment system, DCS in conjunction with Aplix, Inc. is proud to announce the release of A-TACS hook and printed loop. For ordering information and pricing, please contact James Bishop at 800-438-0424.
For all other inquiries regarding A-TACS Nylons, please contact Steve Hanks with Digital Concealment Systems at 334-448-5442.
This is just precious. In a recent press release from the MoD, Colonel Stephen James, Project Team Leader for the Defence Equipment and Support Clothing Team, who was responsible for delivering the new British Multi Terrain Pattern to British forces had this to say, “We have presented the new designs to the US Department of Defense and, following our recommendations, the US Army are about to adopt the same technology for their uniform in Afghanistan.â€
Ok, so there you have it. The recommendation of the British Army, after their experience in adopting MTP a MultiCam-like pattern developed by Crye Precision, is what is responsible for the US Army’s recent decision to field MultiCam to units operating in Afghanistan. I guess it has nothing to do with the results of an arduous selection process carried out by PEO-Soldier and their partners at Natick, AWG, ATEC, and the Infantry Center in which MultiCam was deemed superior to the other candidates.
Remember the old paint by the numbers sets you used to get from your Great Aunt for Christmas? Looking at the condition of these CADPAT-TW Temperate Combat Boots currently undergoing trials, you would need the boot polish equivalent to get them back in shape. This photo of a pair of the trials boots was sent to us and identified as having reached this condition after three weeks of field use. Granted, boots usually get scraped up in the field. The difference here is that with so many colors going on, there is no way to use polish to restore the leather. That is unless there was a polish by the numbers kit.
As most of you know by now, the MultiCam version of the Fire Resistant Army Combat Uniform slated to be issued to troops in Afghanistan has been officially dubbed the OEF FR ACU. This is because it is supposed to only be used in Afghanistan (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM). I guess someone forgot that operations in the Philippines are also part of OEF. But then again, I don’t share PEO-Soldier’s wishful optimism that commanders in other areas won’t want their troops to be outfitted in MultiCam as well. I mean after all, testing has demonstrated it is a very effective pattern in a variety of environments. Why wouldn’t a commander want his troops outfitted in the best equipment available.
At any rate, where are those new OEF FR ACUs anyway? Well, the Army is on its way to fielding, working its way through the procurement process, but meeting the goal of July is going to be difficult if not impossible. The recently released pre-solicitation doesn’t close until 1 June. Then, the Army still has to release an actual solicitation which is usually open for about 30 days, make an award, deal with any protests that might arise, wait for uniforms to roll off the line, and finally distribute them. While mills are chugging away manufacturing FR Defender-M from Tencate, none of the manufacturers of uniforms will place orders for fabric until they receive a contract so there is only so much leaning forward in the fox hole that can be done.
One of the reasons that PEO-Soldier isn’t jumping into MultiCam with both feet is that the Army hasn’t made a long-term decision about camouflage yet. PEO-Soldier says that the Army is moving toward a decision on Phase IV of the camo project but thus far, almost nothing has been released on what exactly this phase entails. Hopefully, we will begin to see some transparency considering the brouhaha raised over the selection of the Universal Camouflage Pattern.
