This effect allows it to perform in a wide range of environments, and keeps the pattern effective even at close distances where pixelated or “blocky” patterns often stand out against natural, non-blocky environments. MultiCam relies more on a blending effect than a contrast effect to disguise the wearer. The unique design of MultiCam takes advantage of this principle and helps the observer to “see” the pattern as part of the background.

Since only a very small portion of the human eye perceives color, the brain does a lot of “filling-in” for the eye. The design takes advantage of the way the human eye and brain perceives shape, volume, and color. By adapting to varying local lighting conditions, it blends well in many environments, elevations, seasons, weather conditions, and times of the day. It takes on an overall green appearance when under a green forest canopy and an overall tan look when in the open desert. The pattern is designed to reflect some of the surrounding colors of the environment. While there are many great location-specific patterns, MultiCam is designed to work well across a very broad range of environmental conditions when observed in both the visual and near infrared (night vision) spectrums. It was designed to address the real-world need for concealment in different environments, with one basic kit of gear. MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. Polish special forces are using a version of the Multicam called Suez. The pattern is also forming the basis of the British MTP pattern replacing the DPM and the new (2013) AMP (Australian Multicam Pattern) which will replace the current DPCU. This first appeared in October 2018.A pattern designed by Crye Precision. Multicam and patterns inspired by it will probably continue to be worn in environments in which it works well, but as militaries revert back from expeditionary roles and return focus to defending their own borders, the camouflage will likely become less widespread.Ĭharlie Gao studied political and computer science at Grinnell College and is a frequent commentator on defense and national security issues. Well, shows up might not be the best choice of words because this camo pattern does the exact opposite of show up if worn during night operationsthen you’re as close to invisible as you can get. The majority of Russian forces are likely to stick with EMR (known in the west as Digiflora), despite the use of Multicam by more elite forces due to its greater effectiveness in the darker green woods of Russia. This Multicam black pattern shows up a lot in the tactical apparel worn by police and military special-forces teams. France is sticking with their 1980s Central European Camouflage pattern in their new uniform. Germany also is fielding a new (lighter) pattern, Multitarn, that’s closer to Multicam’s palette.

Countries who have militaries that primarily operate in those environments are likely to continue using their existing patterns or develop new ones of their own, instead of licensing specific versions of Multicam.įor example, the Austrian Bundesheer recently moved from their old solid green to a new indigenous pattern. The basic pattern works very well a wide variety of locations where recent conflicts have occurred, including Syria, Afghanistan, and even Ukraine, but the pattern falls short when it comes to areas where vegetation is more lush and dense or more sandy. Recommended: Russia's Next Big Military Sale - To Mexico? Air Force That Never Built the B-52 Bomber Recommended: What Will the Sixth-Generation Jet Fighter Look Like?

Even by 2013, Crye Precision themselves recognized the shortcomings of the regular Multicam pattern and launched variations of the pattern for Arid, Tropic and Winter terrain. The general shape and loadout of a soldier will remain somewhat distinct, and various visual ID tells are usually worn to make identifying friendlies easier such as IR strobes, armbands, or tactical recognition flashes on uniforms.īut is Multicam the “end of the line” for camouflage development before the move to active camouflage and other next generation camos? Probably not. That being said, Russian use of Western patterns in elite units has prior precedent, with Russian clones of the British DPM pattern seeing wide usage prior.Ĭould the wide adoption of Multicam result in problems with soldiers not being able to tell each other apart in the field? It’s possible but unlikely. Many more nations issued Multicam on a limited basis to troops deploying to Afghanistan, although many units have begun replacing their regular patterns with Multicam following those deployments.Įven Russia has used adopted Multicam in its more elite units, which have shown a preference for Western gear and equipment. Many other nations began adopting Multicam at this point, such as Australia and Montenegro who adopted it as a standard pattern.