Indian army to don new fatigue

The million-strong Indian Army is all set to bid goodbye to its grey and green combat fatigue. The soldiers of the Indian Army are all set to don a multi-colour camouflage uniform similar to that of US Army.

According to Commander of Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area Brigadier Clement Samuel, the Army headquarters is working on a new combat fatigue aimed at ensuring that a solider merges with background and is not all that visible to the enemy.

Against the combination of grey and green combat dress presently adorning the Indian soliders, the new fatigue will be a mixture of khaki, light green, brown and grey. However, the pattern of patches on the Indian Army’s combat uniform will be different from that of the US Army. “The white patches on the dress will be smaller”.

Brigadier Clement Samuel said field trials are being conducted in many places including Bangalore. The Indian Army has taken up field trials in different terrains like deserts, jungles and coastal areas to ensure that the new fatigue is comfortable in all climatic conditions.

Once the Indian Army adopts the new uniform, the practice of using combat fatigues of different shades in different terrains will also be done away with, according to the Brigadier.

The Ordnance factory at Kanpur has already come out with the new cloth that is superior in terms of texture, longevity and camouflaging effect. “More importantly, it breathes easier”.

After the field trials, the Army headquarters in New Delhi will receive inputs from various units and take a final decision. “It may approve the new dress as it is or even suggest some modifications”, a senior officer said.

The formal changeover to the new fatigue is expected to begin soon after the Army headquarters gives its stamp of approval for the new uniform and starts providing the new materials to all its units. Select stores across the country will be identified and permitted to sell these uniforms to ensure that others do not misuse military uniforms.