Nordic Combat Uniform

Last updated
Nordic Combat Uniform
Type Military uniform
Place of origin NORDEFCO
Service history
In service2025–present
Used by
Production history
ManufacturerOskar Pedersen A/S
Variants
First Entry [2]

The Nordic Combat Uniform (NCU) is the joint military uniform system being introduced into the militaries of the Nordic countries, as part of a NORDEFCO initiative. The uniform will be issued in each nations camouflage pattern.

Contents

History

In 2015, soldiers expressed wishes for a newer and more modular uniform system. [3] Additionally, there was a wish for increased military cooperation between the Nordic countries. For this reason the Nordic militaries began a shared search for a combat uniform. In 2018, the countries each provided a list of requirements to suppliers, wanting customization and ability to work in all climates. The NCU will be in each nations camouflage pattern. [4] [5] In November 2019, uniforms from the four final pre-qualified suppliers were issued to 480 Nordic special forces, soldiers and conscripts for testing. [6] The uniform system will be provided in three configurations; European, desert and jungle where the European configuration is split into two, both a common (intermediate) which goes down to −19 °C (−2 °F) and a so-called "cold add–on" which can go down to −46 °C (−51 °F). The total procurement cost was expected to be €400 million. [6] It was expected that an agreement for the period 2021–2028, would be concluded by the end of 2020. [6] However, by 2021, the tender process was not completed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the global supply chain crisis. [7] On 8 February 2022, it was announced that Norwegian consortium Oskar Pedersen A/S, would be chosen to supply the new uniforms to all Nordic countries, at a total cost of €425 million. [8]

In 2024, Eirik Kristoffersen, the Norwegian Chief of Defence, criticized the NCU, as the different types of camouflage patterns made interchangeability between the Nordics difficult. [9] This was coupled with enormous praise for the new system, also saying "I think nothing was better with the old one, aside from it being a bit cheaper in the short-term." [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt (7 July 2023). "Kan du se soldaten?". Forsvaret (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt (15 February 2022). "Slik ble det det nye norske kamuflasjemønsteret til Forsvaret utviklet". Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  3. ↑ Sundsdal, Christian (2 September 2015). "Ny fællesnordisk uniform er i støbeskeen". krigeren.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. ↑ FMI (29 August 2018). "Ny nordisk kampuniform ind i ny fase". fmi.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  5. ↑ NORDEFCO. "Nordic Combat Uniform System". nordefco.org. Nordic Defence Cooperation. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 FMI (11 November 2019). "Nyt nordisk kampuniformsprojekt er gået ind i testfasen". fmi.dk/ (in Danish). Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Honnør (November 2021). "Mens vi venter på nyt uniformssystem" [While we wait for the new uniform system]. Honnør (in Danish). Vol. 3. Forsvarskommandoen. p. 23. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  8. ↑ KrigerenDK (8 February 2022). "Her er Forsvarets nye uniformer – Nordic Combat Uniform". krigeren.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  9. ↑ Andresen, Frode (23 August 2024). "Nordisk fællesindkøb af uniformer irriterer Norges forsvarschef" . Altinget (in Danish). Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Dette er dommen over Forsvarets nye uniform". Forsvarets Forum (in Norwegian). 5 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
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