On its 74th foundation day, the Indian Army on Saturday unveiled for the first time in public its new combat uniform, as commandos of the Parachute regiment, clothed in the new uniform, marched at the parade ground in Delhi Cantt on Army Day.
It is lighter and more environmentally friendly. The new camouflage uniform features a “digital” pattern. A variety of colours, including earthy and olive, are used in the new camouflage outfit.
The new uniform, which replaces the force’s decades-old combat fatigues, features a digital camouflage pattern, similar to the one used by the British Army. It is likely to be introduced in the Indian Army by August this year.
Within the force, battle fatigues are worn by troops in operational areas, while officers, posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, put on these clothes every Friday to show solidarity with soldiers posted in forward areas. Also, the new uniform, unlike the existing one, will not need the shirt to be tucked inside the trouser.
The decision to introduce the new Army battle gear was made at the last Army Commanders’ Conference. The camouflage outfits are completely different from current wear and troops will not be forced to tuck their shirts in.
The uniform, created in close collaboration with the Army by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), aims to make soldiers more comfortable while still being operationally friendly.
Filters have been used on the new Army pattern to distort its appearance. “The new Army Combat Pattern Uniform has been developed with the help of National Institute of Fashion Technology after going through options of 15 patterns, eight designs and four fabrics,” government sources said. The options were evaluated by the Army and four camouflage patterns, three designs and five fabrics were short-listed.
More than 150 Army personnel across two infantry brigades, an artillery brigade and a military police unit of Delhi were given 15 sets of combat uniforms which were in different combinations of the short-listed patterns, designs and fabrics for feedback.
The final prototype of the uniform was selected based on their feedback and presented to all Army Commanders during the Army Commanders’ Conference in October last year. Army Chief General MM Naravane had given his in-principle approval on this uniform.
At present around 300 pieces of the approved prototype of the uniform are being manufactured for all command headquarters for familiarisation of all personnel. This also includes 10 to 20 custom-made uniforms. Commands where women Army personnel are posted in Corps of Military Police units will be provided around a dozen additional sets.
The new uniform will have a digital camouflage pattern that would be exclusive and unique to the force. The contemporary design will have the jackets tucked out and the trousers tucked inside the boots.
The fabric will be lightweight, yet stronger and will be quick drying, thus more comfortable for the troops during operations. The new uniform will be available in 13 sizes and the fabric is made of a combination of cotton and polyester in a ratio of 70:30.
Unlike the present combat uniform which is also available in the open market, the new uniform will only be issued to the troops through ordnance chain.
A tender could be floated to manufacture the new combat uniforms that will see participation of private firms and defence PSUs. It is being discussed if this should be a limited tender to invite only reputed vendors and avoid pilferage into the open market.
The life of the current combat uniform is approximately 18 months. It was introduced in 2008 and since then has lost its novelty due to easy availability in the civil market. Thus the need to find better and modern fabric for more utility and comfort.
It can take a couple of years for the Army to completely switch over to the new combat uniform with the current stocking and provisioning systems in place.
