Author: army.cz|Caption: MAD 21 (very left)
While other Alliance member states have figuratively changed their camouflage patterns several times, Czech soldiers have been wearing the same for a quarter of a century. Due to a change in the current and future battlefield, now is the time for a change: MAD21, the Camouflage Design (MAskovací Design) Pattern 2021, has met all the requirements for modern and functional camouflage. Its greatest advantage is its versatility.
The need for a new camouflage has been discussed publicly and in professional circles for the last five years. In the Czech Army, the established pattern 95 (forest print) is still of high quality, and attempts to replace it have not met expectations. However, the current and future battlefield has changed and thus a new pattern on military field uniforms has become a necessity.
Finished in two weeks
The MAD21 project came about by chance at a regular meeting of the Permanent Integrated Working Team (SIPT 2) at the Material Security Centre of the Technical Services in Brno, which approached the author of the book "Camouflage: Chapters from the History of Land and Naval Camouflage Design", academic sculptor Tomáš Chorý. The graphic designer and teacher at Palacký University turned out to be a long-time military fan. "Since I was a child, I have enjoyed the army, I used to build aerial models and what I enjoyed most about them was their camouflage," explains Tomáš Chorý. Word got around and the designer prepared a possible future print design for the Army team. It took him an incredible fourteen days.
One camouflage for different environments
The brief was for a multi-purpose print that would maintain the traditions of the current AČR Forest camouflage pattern (M. 95), which is great for the woods but loses its covering ability in more "complicated" landscapes, not to mention urban developments. "Thus, to modify the existing Czech Army forest pattern using colours based on MultiCam camouflage prints and to adapt it for different anticipated environments so that in the future we use only one print instead of two. That is, forest and desert," explains Lieutenant Colonel Helena Jarešová, Chief of the Czech Armed Forces Equipment Service.
Users also got involved
It was the wish of the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces that not only experts but also future users - soldiers themselves - should work on the creation of the new camouflage pattern. In total, it is a team of about sixty people. The tasks were divided as follows: the logistics section specified the requirements of the soldiers, the University of Defence dealt with the management of the project. The project consists of two parts - the printing, i.e. MAD21, and the cutting and material. Last April, the project was presented to General Aleě Opata. In November, the Ministry of Defence approved and registered this camouflage design as a European industrial design.
And what's next?
Currently, the University of Defence is working on evaluating the versatility of MAD21 by means of an exact description and, in cooperation with the Technical University of Liberec, is preparing a new methodology for measuring colour and spectral reflectance. The Military Research Institute Brno, which has the status of national guarantor of camouflage, is of course also invited to the project so that the whole process will be concluded with the publication of a new Czech Defence Standard. The BDU MAD21 project, i.e. camouflage in a new cut and print, will be presented to General Opata in May this year.
Author: Magdalena Dvořáková/acr.army.cz