Today, the combat uniforms of many countries no longer feature the traditional camouflage patterns; instead, they showcase unusual shapes and colors. What are these patterns and how do they function?
What is Digital Camouflage?
We are all too familiar with the image of military uniforms from almost every country in the world, characterized by camouflage patterns designed for concealment.
Military uniforms have transitioned from traditional camouflage to digital styles.
However, things have changed today. If you are impressed by the pixelated graphics in the popular online game Minecraft, you might think the military has adopted this design for their uniforms instead of the old-fashioned camouflage.
In other words, over the past 20 years, militaries around the world have shifted from traditional camouflage patterns to digital combat uniforms.
Old camouflage uniforms typically featured forest patterns and were used by the U.S. Marine Corps, soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel from 1981 until two decades ago.
However, not every uniform pattern or design from a single manufacturer over the years is the best choice.
In 2002, the Marine Corps adopted a digital pattern known as MARPAT. This design underwent rigorous field testing and proved to be more effective than the previously used forest-pattern camouflage.
Meanwhile, the Army introduced a redesigned Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) combat uniform in 2005.
According to Timothy R. O’Neill, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant, large blocky designs with multiple colors are effective at long distances, while smaller patterns perform better up close.
Digital pixel patterns are suitable for both the Marine Corps and the Army because, in close situations, the small pattern areas resemble the natural projection of leaves. Conversely, the square clusters blend seamlessly with trees, branches, and shadows when viewed from a distance.
A specific study conducted by the Naval Research Office found that soldiers in MARPAT uniforms took 2.5 seconds to be detected, while those in traditional uniforms were spotted in just one second. In a battlefield situation, these few seconds can make a significant difference.
Digital patterns used by various divisions of the U.S. Army featuring different styles and colors.
Diverse Options
Digital camouflage patterns incorporated by several divisions of the U.S. Army feature various styles and colors. Each design and camouflage color is best suited to the specific environment in which they frequently operate.
Accordingly, the Army wears the UCP pattern while the Marine Corps wears MARPAT, with pixel patterns available in two variants: desert and forest.
The U.S. Navy utilizes a multi-colored digital print in three variants. The first variant is predominantly blue with some gray, commonly used by most ships and sailors. The second features a forest digital pattern, while the final pattern resembles desert environments.
The use of outdated uniforms by the U.S. military in Afghanistan was proven to be a significant mistake due to the absence of brown, causing the military to stand out clearly in predominantly desert environments.
At the same time, tests have shown that digital patterns are the best way to achieve effectiveness on the battlefield as long as the right colors are used. Here, the MultiCam digital pattern appears to work effectively in Afghanistan.
However, it seems that Chinese perspectives differ from those of Americans, especially in their use of colors in unpredictable ways.
During a military parade in September 2015, China showcased various armored vehicles and missile batteries with blue camouflage, which is believed to be ineffective for battlefield concealment.
There are several explanations for this choice. According to Insider, the Chinese may have selected this color scheme to signal a significant shift in the military’s focus towards naval power.
Additionally, blue patterns, while easily noticeable during the day, are very hard to detect at night.
