Singapore Armed Forces to introduce new combat
uniform in 2009
By Lynda Hong,
Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 September 2008 0238 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's men in green will be seeing a new combat
uniform from next year.
Some 300,000 servicemen will eventually be wearing the new SAF
combat uniform with high-tech pixelised patterns on it. The
patterns replace the large green patches on the old outfit.
The new material maintains the camouflage effect even when
viewed through night vision devices.
It is also designed to be used in war zones that extend beyond
the jungle.
Colonel Tan Chor Kiat, Chief of Staff, HQ 9 Division, Infantry,
Singapore Armed Forces, said: "When you talk about urban terrain,
you are really looking at a very unique characteristic where the
opposing forces can co-exist within the same urban terrain in a
very volatile system.
"Consequently, the soldiers are going to get shot at a lot more
often, and at a much shorter distance."
According to the SAF, the
new uniform increases detection time by 30 to 50 percent in the
urban environment, making it harder for enemies to find their
targets.
It is also made from
better quality fabric, which helps dissipate sweat and heat away
from the body quicker, and comes with ergonomic features such as
extra padding and pockets.
It will be introduced to all
servicemen over a three-year period starting from
2009.
The first to receive the new uniforms will be recruits
from the January Basic Military Training intake, as well as active personnel and NSmen
in their sixth and seventh In-Camp Training years, while the rest
will get theirs in 2010 and 2011.
NSmen currently in their
seventh to ninth years, however, will not receive the new
uniform.
SAF said this phased approach takes into consideration the wear
and tear of servicemen's existing uniforms. - CNA/de
