On 31 October 2011, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army approved the selection of multiple camouflage patterns to continue field trials and more extensive computer analysis during FY12 for the Army’s Phase IV Camouflage effort.
The U.S. Army selected five vendors to proceed forward to develop a family of camouflage patterns that will be effective across a myriad of environments. The effort, commonly known as Phase IV and managed by PEO Soldier, enters the second phase of selection with the award of these contracts by narrowing the field to five selectees. These selectees were chosen following a rigorous technical evaluation backed by solid scientific analyses and incorporating critical Soldier input from the field. The new designs will include a woodland variant, a desert variant, and one that will encompass everything else, such as body armor and gear.
Four industry partners and one Government team will produce fabric for prototype uniforms and Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment (OCIE) camouflage uniforms for field trials and other evaluations in FY2012:
1. ADS, Inc. (teamed with Hyperstealth, Inc.) – Virginia Beach, Virginia
2. Brookwood Companies, Inc- New York, NY
3. Crye Precision, LLC – Brooklyn, NY
4. Kryptek, Inc. – Fairbanks, AK
5. Government pattern developed at U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA
“These selectees were chosen following a rigorous technical evaluation backed by solid scientific analyses and incorporating critical Soldier input from the field,” Program Executive Soldier spokeswoman Debi Dawson said in an announcement. Each offeror submitted a family of camouflage patterns (desert, woodland, and transitional) along with a single coordinated pattern for the Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment (OCIE).
The second step will entail scientific analysis including field trials and will take approximately nine months. This will be followed by a cost benefit analysis to determine if the Army will adopt a new camouflage pattern.
The Army proactively works alongside sister Services in several developmental projects, with Phase IV being one of them. They will share the results of the camouflage research with the other Services, and would place no restrictions on other Services wearing uniforms in the newly developed patterns.