The Army has issued a Purchase order for the production of MOLLE systems in MultiCam in anticipation of the upcoming camouflage tests in Afghanistan. It seems that this train is on its way.
Posts Tagged ‘Multicam’
BAE to Produce MultiCam MOLLE for Afghanistan Camo Test
Thursday, September 24th, 2009A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Gina Vaile-Nelson, 133rd MPAD
Drop Zone Recce Smock
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Like their website says, “What’s old is new again”. Smocks? What can I say? I love them. I’ve been wearing them since I traded a poncho liner for an SAS smock on an exercise in Belgium in 89. We’ve never had anything like them here in the US. The closest we can claim comes from our northern neighbors; Canada, where Drop Zone has embraced the concept and taken it to the next level with their Recce Smock.
There are a lot of features here. A full multitude of pockets and a generous cut allow for layering.
Sized in Small through XX-Large, the Recce Smock is generously cut. It is available in a multitude of colors including: CadPatâ„¢ Tw, CadPatâ„¢ Ar, Multicamâ„¢, Tan, Olive Drab, Police Navy Blue, and Swat Black. Additionally, special patterns such as UCP can be produced by special order. This is an attractive option, especially for those downrange as it can still be a little bit of the wild west for outer garments as the Army comes to grips with providing sufficient foul weather garments in UCP.
To order, contact Drop Zone.
Tactical Research Kiowa in Multicam
Thursday, June 18th, 2009Here is a sneak peak of the Multicam variant of the new Kiowa boot from Belleville’s Tactical Research.
I have seen the Multicam Kiowa in person and in sunlight the suede actually color matches the Olive in the Multicam pattern.
Available in the near future from Tactical Research.
Congress Cares About Camo
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009It seems someone clued Congress in on the fact that the Universal Camouflage Pattern issued to troops fighting in Afghanistan is far from the ideal. So Congress has told the Army to issue something better. Well, the first word in UCP is after all “Universal” and that makes it a compromise since it has to blend in everywhere. Oddly, Afghanistan is not monochrome and there are a variety of environments to blend in with so ultimately a “Universal” camouflage is what is called for after all. Maybe it just needs to be tuned a bit.
Here is the wording from the Conference Committee Report.
“The conferees understand that soldiers deployed to Afghanistan have serious concerns about the current combat uniform which they indicate provides ineffective camouflage given the environment in Afghanistan. Accordingly, the conferees direct that within funding made available the Department of Defense take immediate action to provide combat uniforms to personnel deployed to Afghanistan with a camouflage pattern that is suited to the environment of Afghanistan.
The conferees further direct the Secretary of the Army to provide a report on the program plans and budgetary adjustments necessary to provide appropriate uniforms to deployed and deploying troops to Afghanistan. The report shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees by the end of fiscal year 2009.”
So Congress wants the Army to reprogram money “immediately” to provide an alternative camo pattern for forces in Afghanistan and report to the Armed Services Committees before the end of the fiscal year on it will be accomplished. Can you imagine how this went over when word reached PEO-Soldier? “The jig is up, they’re on to us”.
Now please remember, that this still isn’t law. The President hasn’t signed it YET but is expected to soon.
So how will this play out? Interesting question, considering when asked just weeks ago at the Soldier Systems APBI about the possibility of alternative camouflage patterns, PEO-Soldier officials gave a curt, “No”. However, it has come to our attention that the 173d Airborne Brigade has been granted approval to wear Multicam during their OEF rotation. So that option seems open…maybe. Alternatively, it is highly unlikely that any new SOCOM patterns will be used by general purpose forces. 3-color desert pattern is still available but was replaced by the “superior” UCP so institutional momentum may veto its use. Desert MARPAT is a possibility, if the Army can wade through the interservice rivalry issues. And finally, what about an entirely new pattern, or old for that matter? Several promising designs were tested by Natick in the 2003-2004 time frame before UCP was adopted virtually out of nowhere.
Ultimately, it is going to be about cost. It isn’t just uniforms. There are a variety of other equipage and accouterments that must also be produced in an alternative pattern. And all of this while the Army is still in the throes of a complete roll out of the UCP pattern. Who will foot the bill? Congress has essentially issued budgetary guidance to the Army to reprogram funds.
Lightweight Duty Belt from BFG
Monday, March 16th, 2009The new Lightweight Duty Belt from BFG is designed specifically to complement their SOC-C Modular Belt. The core of the belt is a single piece of 2″ tubular Cordura webbing sewn between two layers of loop fastener. This gives the belt stiffness and the pile adheres directly to the hook fastener sewn inside the SOC-C Outer Belt. The belt’s closure is an ITW 2″ dual adjust side release buckle.
Available now in Coyote, UCP, and Multicam from Blue Force Gear. One size fits most.
OTB Jungle Boot in Multicam
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009OTB produced a few prototypes of their upcoming Jungle Boot in Multicam. If these go into production we hope they use Tan suede as the base boot.
Crye Precision Relaunches Website
Monday, March 9th, 2009
The website offers the new AC Combat Clothing, Field Clothing, as well as the CAGE Armor Chassis and Blast Belt.
Visit www.cryeprecision.com
