CADPAT

Canada's desire for a new soldier system dates back to November 1988 and closely followed efforts in many NATO countries. The first research effort, called Integrated Protective Clothing and Equipment (IPCE) Technology Demonstration, was initiated in 1995 but then was cancelled, due to high systems cost and failure to meet the majority of the requirements. Ongoing operations in the mid-1990s led to the creation of the Clothe the Soldier (CTS) Project, which directly addressed the NATO soldier system capability areas of survivability and sustainability. The Canadian Disruptive Pattern was a part of ongoing research and implemented during the CTS Project.[3]

The use of CADPAT AR overseas was first reported in Afghanistan when Taliban prisoners of war were seen escorted by armed Canadian commandos in the camo. This nearly made things complicated for the Department of National Defence, since it had said that no Canadian commandos were officially in Afghanistan.[4][5] The use of CADPAT TW was reported in September 2001 with Canadian soldiers serving under PALLADIUM ROTATION 09.[5]

In 2019, tests were conducted for plans to eventually replace CADPAT in service with the Canadian Forces.[6][7] Under the Soldier Operational Clothing and Equipment Modernization (SOCEM) project, the DND will seek feedback and advice from users of the trial camouflage known as Prototype J before a decision is made in 2022. A new camouflage pattern would be adopted by 2027.[8]

Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on exercise wearing CADPAT TW

In development for the better part of a decade, the pattern comes in three varieties: temperate woodland (TW), arid region (AR), and winter/arctic (WA). The temperate woodland pattern became the standard issue for the Army in 2002, with the Air Force following suit in 2004. Uniforms and equipment in CADPAT material replaced the olive green material in use since the early 1960s.

Temperate woodland

Canadian soldier wearing tactical vest and the fragmentation protective vest

The temperate woodland (TW) pattern has four specific colours—light green, dark green, brown, and black—and was first introduced in 1996 on the helmet cover for the new CG634 helmet then coming into service. At the same time, the pattern was also introduced on a new soldier's individual camouflage net. The CADPAT TW uniform allows Canadian soldiers protection from observation by the naked eye and night vision devices.

Arid regions

Soldiers from the Canadian Grenadier Guards wearing CADPAT AR in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan

Concurrent with the trials of CADPAT TW, work was carried out to identify a uniform for operations in desert, near desert, and savanna environmental conditions. This three-colour pattern, known as CADPAT arid regions (AR), incorporates three different colours of brown. The CADPAT design for arid regions has been approved, and the transfer of this digital technology is ongoing to the textiles industry. CADPAT AR also features two additional arm pockets and Velcro on the arms compared to the TW uniform. In light of the deployment of the Immediate Reaction Force to Afghanistan, the CADPAT AR project was expedited with the intent that it would be issued to soldiers in summer 2002.[5]

• Media related to CADPAT at Wikimedia Commons
• Clothe the Soldier Programme
• Digital Camouflage History
• CA 2442558
• US 6933023
• US D474897