The Nordic uniform system is being tested

The Nordic Combat Uniform (NCU) project is now ready for field testing. Around 480 soldiers from all four Nordic countries will test the uniform systems of the last prequalified bidders.

During these weeks, around 480 soldiers participating in the field testing phase will open the boxes with the new patterned uniform systems. This marks the beginning of the comprehensive testing phase from December 2019 to May 2020.

The Nordic Combat Uniform Project is part of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). The objective of the joint Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish project, the Nordic Combat Uniform (NCU), is to develop a shared flexible, consistent combat system that meets the operational requirements of the modern battlefield.

One system, one design, but national camouflage.

The NCU clothing system includes uniform configurations from underwear to outerwear, designed to be used in European, jungle, and desert conditions. The configuration is the same in all countries, but each country will use its own national camouflage pattern in the uniforms. Headgear, gloves, footwear, or personal protective equipment are not part of the NCU, and each country will procure those items independently. The technical requirements for this procurement are a system approach that meets operational requirements. These include Nordic and European combat environments, as well as very cold and extremely hot conditions like those in the jungle or desert. These functional requirements are based on a common user experience from all four countries and Nordic expertise.

One of the major benefits of a joint Nordic Combat Uniform project is the scale of the procurement. With an estimated value of 425 million euros, it has attracted global attention from leading providers, creating the basis for increased competition and better value for money.

Experience from four nations bundled into a uniform combat system

Although price is important, the greatest advantage of the joint Nordic cooperation is the comprehensive testing carried out by around 480 soldiers from the four countries. Test subjects include all types of soldiers, from conscripts to special forces.

In their proposals, the combat uniform bidders described the uniform configurations that they believe meet the functional requirements of the NCU countries.

Based on the tenders, from December 2019 to May 2020, the project has invited uniform bidders to field trials. The field tests will evaluate the functionality of the offered uniform configurations under various conditions and collect user feedback on the usability of the uniforms.

The field trials for the uniform configurations in the European region will be carried out by the armed forces of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The jungle and desert uniform field trials will be conducted by the Danish armed forces, including special forces, in the first half of 2020. In Finland, the clothing configurations will undergo separate tests to assess their functionality under Arctic conditions.

After the completion of the field trials, the Swedish Defence Research Institute (Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, FOI) will gather feedback from the Nordic user groups. The NCU project will analyze the feedback and conduct a functional performance evaluation of the combat uniforms based on this feedback.

The evaluation of the functional performance is part of assessing the technical performance of each offered combat uniform system. The overall evaluation includes both the technical performance and the prices offered. This evaluation forms the basis for negotiations with the remaining bidders and a request for their final bids. Following the assessment of these, the NCU framework agreements will be concluded.

NORDEFCO on the Internet: www.nordefco.org