IN 15 years, the value of an Australian soldier’s gear has jumped from $3700 to almost $30,000.
The uniforms have been redesigned, the armour has been upgraded and the weapons have become even more deadly.
All of those improvements raise our Diggers’ chances of survival when they travel to the world’s most dangerous places.
Of course, soldiers carry different types and amounts of equipment, depending on their duties. In some situations they’re expected to carry up to 58 kilograms. But even their most basic gear is impressively hi-tech.
Camouflage uniform
The army uses three kinds of camouflage, each of which is tailored to certain conditions. The first is a Disruptive Pattern print, which has been around since the 1980s and was developed using aerial photographs of Australian terrain.
Then there’s a Disruptive Pattern Desert print, which incorporates different colours and is used in, you guessed it, desert conditions.
Finally, there’s the Multicam uniform, which has seven different colours and works in a wide range of environments. It also has built-in knee and elbow pads to help reduce the number of minor injuries our soldiers suffer.
Tiered body armour
The Tiered Body Armour System gives soldiers extra protection, along with a series of pouches in which to place their ammunition and equipment.
The armour is designed to stop “small arms fire and fragmentation”. It also has a quick release mechanism, which makes it quick and easy to remove the armour in an emergency.
Enhanced combat helmet
The point of the helmet is pretty obvious — it’s there to protect the soldier’s head from bullets. But it’s engineered to be lightweight and camouflaged as well.
The current standard issue combat helmet was introduced in 2004 after winning a competition between four rival designs.
Ocular protection system
Eye protection is extremely important, particularly in desert-like environments where sand and dust swirls through the air.
The Ballistic and Laser Ocular Protection System shields a soldier’s eyes from enemies, as well as environmental threats. It comes in the form of goggles or sunglasses.
F88 Austeyer rifle
The F88SA2 is the standard combat weapon for Australian infantry. It fires 5.56 x 45 millimetre ammunition at up to 850 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 300 metres. The rifle can even be fitted with a Grenade Launcher Attachment.
In other words, it’s a very deadly weapon.
The gun is 79 centimetres long, and it weighs four kilograms when fully loaded.
Field pack
Packs are used to carry supplies during operations that last longer than 24 hours. They come in several sizes, but the largest contains about 80 litres of space, which is enough to hold sleeping gear and more than three days’ worth of food and water.
