SAF uniform to take on pixellated look
The camouflage pattern on the new uniforms will hide soldiers in the jungle more effectively
By Teh Joo Lin
THE Singapore Armed Forces is planning to replace its uniform with something which will make its soldiers harder to spot in the jungle.
Instead of the black, green and brown fatigues which soldiers here have been wearing for more than two decades, the new uniform is said to resemble what the United States Marine Corps uses now.
The uniform will adopt new technology which uses smaller pixels of colours to create a complex pattern.
This is in contrast to the present uniform which has larger splotches of colours.
The Defence Ministry issued a tender for the new uniforms in the middle of last month.
The latest design change will be the largest revision of its kind in 25 years for the SAF. The current military combat uniform - known among soldiers as the No. 4 uniform - was introduced in 1983. It features splotches of black, brown and green printed in an interlocking pattern, which helps the soldier blend into the foliage.
No official details about the new uniforms are available, but The Straits Times understands an announcement is expected next month.
However, the impending change has already fuelled discussion in online forums among servicemen. Some national servicemen (NSmen) had also been briefed on the new combat greens on their recent returns to camp.
Much of the talk has been speculation about how the new uniform looks, which other militaries have adopted the camouflage and where the ranks will appear on the new fatigues.
There are about 300,000 active and full-time national servicemen. All are expected to be issued the new uniforms.
The new look is also intended to be more functional than cosmetic.
The camouflage pattern is supposed to be harder to pick out in the jungle, based on how the human eye interacts with pixellated images.
Like the US Marine Corps, the Canadian military has a pixel pattern on its uniform.
When contacted, defence analyst Bernard Loo said he had seen the US Marine Corps in training with their pixellated uniform on the beach, 'and it works very well for them'.
Dr Loo said the new Singapore uniform was likely to have been put through its paces by the SAF.
'I assume they would have tested it against the likely area of operations and found the new camouflage pattern works better than the present one.'
Another change - the rank insignia on the new uniforms will be worn on the chest instead of on the shoulder epaulettes.
The new fatigues are likely to be introduced in phases, with soldiers in active units donning them first.
The camouflage pattern on the new uniforms will hide soldiers in the jungle more effectively
By Teh Joo Lin
THE Singapore Armed Forces is planning to replace its uniform with something which will make its soldiers harder to spot in the jungle.
Instead of the black, green and brown fatigues which soldiers here have been wearing for more than two decades, the new uniform is said to resemble what the United States Marine Corps uses now.
The uniform will adopt new technology which uses smaller pixels of colours to create a complex pattern.
This is in contrast to the present uniform which has larger splotches of colours.
The Defence Ministry issued a tender for the new uniforms in the middle of last month.
The latest design change will be the largest revision of its kind in 25 years for the SAF. The current military combat uniform - known among soldiers as the No. 4 uniform - was introduced in 1983. It features splotches of black, brown and green printed in an interlocking pattern, which helps the soldier blend into the foliage.
No official details about the new uniforms are available, but The Straits Times understands an announcement is expected next month.
However, the impending change has already fuelled discussion in online forums among servicemen. Some national servicemen (NSmen) had also been briefed on the new combat greens on their recent returns to camp.
Much of the talk has been speculation about how the new uniform looks, which other militaries have adopted the camouflage and where the ranks will appear on the new fatigues.
There are about 300,000 active and full-time national servicemen. All are expected to be issued the new uniforms.
The new look is also intended to be more functional than cosmetic.
The camouflage pattern is supposed to be harder to pick out in the jungle, based on how the human eye interacts with pixellated images.
Like the US Marine Corps, the Canadian military has a pixel pattern on its uniform.
When contacted, defence analyst Bernard Loo said he had seen the US Marine Corps in training with their pixellated uniform on the beach, 'and it works very well for them'.
Dr Loo said the new Singapore uniform was likely to have been put through its paces by the SAF.
'I assume they would have tested it against the likely area of operations and found the new camouflage pattern works better than the present one.'
Another change - the rank insignia on the new uniforms will be worn on the chest instead of on the shoulder epaulettes.
The new fatigues are likely to be introduced in phases, with soldiers in active units donning them first.