Trial of new combat uniform extended to Aussie troops 'outside the wire'
The Australian Government will extend the trial of a new ‘Multicam' combat uniform following positive feedback from Special Forces soldiers wearing them in Afghanistan.
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the extension today during his address to the biannual Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.
The Multicam combat uniform is a different camouflage pattern to the current Australian combat uniform and is also worn by US troops in Afghanistan.
Over the past year it has been trialled by Australian Special Forces troops in Afghanistan.
Based on their feedback, the trial will now be extended for a further 12 months to all Australian troops operating ‘outside the wire' in Afghanistan.
Mr Clare said the feedback from Special Forces troops has been extremely positive.
"Special Forces soldiers have said this is the uniform they want to wear," Mr Clare said.
"The camouflage pattern provides troops with greater levels of concealment across the range of terrains in Afghanistan - urban, desert and green.
"It also makes it easier for our troops to do their job."
The Multicam shirt and trousers:
· have elbow and knee pads built in to reduce soft tissue injuries;
· are cooler and designed to be worn under body armour;
· have a padded waist band to make it more comfortable under webbing or a field pack; and
· have more pockets and a stretch fabric at the joints.
Mr Clare said Defence has made an urgent order from the United States to get these uniforms to troops in Afghanistan as quickly as possible.
"I have also instructed the Defence Materiel Organisation to pursue the purchase of a licence to provide for the potential manufacture of this uniform in Australia if the extended trial is successful," Mr Clare said.
Source: Australian Defence Media Centre
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![British Army fires Javelin from Boxer as Australia set for lightweight launchers]()
British Army fires Javelin from Boxer as Australia set for lightweight launchers
Australia has received approval to buy Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) on the same day as the British Army announced the first firing from a Boxer armoured vehicle, a sign of the continuing interest in the weapon. Billons-of-dollars of Javelin missiles and systems have been ordered in the past two years.
-
![Lockheed picks Australian site for GMLRS support and possible missile manufacture]()
Lockheed picks Australian site for GMLRS support and possible missile manufacture
A final decision on the siting of an Australian Weapons Manufacturing Complex (AMWC), which will produce all-up GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) rounds, will be made by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD).
-
![Raytheon and Diehl Defence sign deal to co-produce Stinger missiles in Europe]()
Raytheon and Diehl Defence sign deal to co-produce Stinger missiles in Europe
An agreement has been signed that will extend Stinger missile system production to Europe with Diehl Defence currently looking at manufacturing locations.
-
![New version of Altay tank to be delivered “soon” with Turkish engine for later iterations]()
New version of Altay tank to be delivered “soon” with Turkish engine for later iterations
The first of the Altay T1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) will have a South Korean power pack while later Atlay T2s will be fitted with the locally made BMC BATU engine.
-
![Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion]()
Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion
There continues to be an insatiable desire for air-defence and air-launched missiles and systems in the US and worldwide. Lockheed Martin’s latest deals reinforce the demand and highlight the supply chain challenge for manufacturing solid rocket motors.
-
![Bahrain approved for $500 million HIMARS order as production surges]()
Bahrain approved for $500 million HIMARS order as production surges
Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is being widely ordered and deployed. The company has been working to ramp up production while continuing work to design and produce more potent missiles.
