The Army has released an RFI, looking for information on combining their Improved Combat Vehicle Crewman Coverall (iCVC) and Army Aircrew Combat Uniform (A2CU). These FR (and electrostatic dissipative) garments are worn respectively by mounted crewmen such as tankers and aviators such as pilots.
Specifically they are looking for “capability statements from companies for the purpose of identifying potential sources to assist in the development of an innovative Design and Specification” for a garment that:
Is a single uniform which meets the requirements of both the Aviation and Armor communities.
Constructed of a light weight, breathable and durable fabric (lighter weight than the current iCVC Coverall fabric and more durable than the current A2CU fabric).
Is equal to or is lesser in cost than the current iCVC Coverall.
Can be used in either a one piece or two piece configuration.
Provides a sizing system matching the Army Combat Uniform and Army Combat Uniform-Alternate Sizing spectrum.
They’re also not planning on giving up camouflage printing or Permethrin treatment.
The root designs of both uniforms predate the adoption of both UCP and OCP with the iCVC being a one-piece coverall and the A2CU a two-piece. Interestingly, USAF airlift and rotary wing crews have recently adopted the A2CU as well as a commercially developed two-piece FR garment because the issue CWU-27/P flight coveralls can be so uncomfortable in the hot environments found in Southwest Asia.
One additional aspect of both the iCVC and A2CU is that they are both components of the Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (Free). By combining the two products into one, and keeping the various other components of FREE in mind vendors can increase the utility and performance of both systems.
Another interesting issue is that a significant number (>20%) Army aviators are female. This may be a factor in combining the two garments.
In addition to design disparities, the two garments are made from different FR fabrics. It seems that during testing for alternative FR fabrics, the two communities preferred the fabrics they are using.
Hopefully, a common sense approach will be reached that can accommodate the needs of both communities.
