Materials for tactical equipment

Camouflages must mask day and night, be durable and long-lasting, provide ventilation and thermal insulation, as well as resistance to wind, moisture, fire and chemical materials. And the list of requirements for fabrics for combat kits is not limited to this.

Previously, camouflage clothing was mainly made from fabric, article number 2701. It contained 57% cotton and 43% polyester. First, she soared. Secondly, it was heavy in principle: it was thick, burned and melted, and during this melting it collapsed. Accordingly, it caused additional damage.

In 2015, technical conditions were developed in order to replace the scandalous "geleteik", which are still valid and provide for 5 types of fabrics.

The first is molyskin, a 100% cotton material that was relevant for the Bundesferu in the 1990s and 2000s.

The second is twill-cotton, like a Soviet "afghan".

The third is mixed twill (65% cotton and 35% polyester), which was the main fabric in the Ukrainian army 3-4 years ago.

The fourth is reinforced ripstop, or the so-called "wafer", which is relevant for our army even now.

The fifth type is similar to the American fabric, which is 50% cotton and 50% nylon, but we have not yet purchased it.

As practice shows, natural fabrics made of cotton, wool or linen now have minimal use. This applies to both the private market and the military wardrobe.

The underwear of the first layer is underwear, a T-shirt. The clothes of the second layer are also made of cotton.

Modern technologies put unnatural and mixed fabrics on the pedestal. Because the natural material cannot provide a significant service life for some equipment elements. Polyester, also called polyether, is already actively displacing nylon. The word "Cordura" entered the slang of manufacturers. In fact, it is a certified nylon from the Italian company Investa. Today, this material has no competitors if you need a durable monolayer, plate carrier or other elements.

Head of M-tac's production design department: "Cordura" is a polyamide fiber, nylon 6.6, which differs from, say, polyester in other temperature parameters in terms of melting and deformation. It is more durable, more resistant to tearing. In addition, a specific weaving system ensures the presence of a light pile.

Ratibor Svarozhiy, official representative of Velmet in the city of Kyiv: Now we are more inclined to the 500th, because it does not lose its quality and strength, besides, it significantly lightens the weight. After all, in field conditions it is above all. As for heavy gear, it's Kodura. And for light, underwear or clothes, these are Polartek, Poldrive, Primaloft.

Sinterpon and batting are already being actively replaced by synthetic fleece fabric. Hats, gloves, pipe scarves, pants and insulated jackets are already being made from it for Ukrainian soldiers.

In 2016, imported samples of American or Asian origin entered the market of Ukraine. In principle, nowadays the bulk of fleece for the Armed Forces is also of American or Asian origin. However, in 2018, one of the enterprises of the light industry began to deploy its own production of an analogue, the so-called classic 200-gram Polartek.

Nevertheless, the leaders in the fleece segment are the Italian company Pontetorto and the American Polartec. Their materials not only warm, but also remove steam and sweat from the body to the outside. Kulmax synthetic fiber, which is used more and more, also copes well with this.

In addition to natural, synthetic and mixed fabrics, there is also a fourth group of fabrics - membrane fabrics. They have a special film in their structure that protects against cold, heat and wind. The material is perfectly ventilated, but over time the impregnation can wash out, so it needs special care. Among the well-known samples are gortex, neoshell, softshell, sharkskin, hardshell.

If you need to ensure the functioning of the body in the conditions of a potential storm or strong wind, in a mountainous area, you should choose a product that has high wind and moisture resistance. It will be a hard shell. A softshell is enough for everyday use in the city.

The products of the best American brands are priced accordingly. Therefore, there are materials for any wallet in the world. The price of Chinese or Thai analogues may differ significantly.

Director of the Velmet company: Multicam can be applied to various fabrics. For example, for overalls: polyester 65% and cotton 35%. Such high-quality fabric will cost $5. Can be applied to nylon-cotton 50% by 50%. Here the cost will start from 12 to 20-25 dollars.

But even after paying a lot of money, our equipment manufacturers have to send material samples to laboratories. M-tas brand recently started to create its own. They already have a step meter that tests fabric dye fastness and a sunlight testing machine.

The textile industry is continuously updated with new technologies and products. Ukraine follows world trends, and therefore our army and private buyers have every chance for quality equipment. The main thing is that there are enough funds for this.