14 ms·

If I'm reading this correctly, the decision process that resulted in the horribly-ineffective UCP pattern amounts to: "We want one pattern. So let's pick one co

If I'm reading this correctly, the decision process that resulted in the horribly-ineffective UCP pattern amounts to: "We want one pattern. So let's pick one color from the best camo patterns in every environment [the only one that has good NIR performance], and the result will somehow work well!" Which is... yowzers. (For what it's worth, the Multicam pattern, which is slightly modified to the OCP pattern now in use by the US Army/Air Force, manages to do a better job than the UCP pattern at actually being universal camo, and it's not even the best of the tests.) The NIR requirements means you can almost see how the decision might be justifiable... but that no one actually tested the resulting pattern as a check? I mean, one of the most salient facts about human color processing is that we evaluate colors based on their surrounding context, so even if individual colors work well, you would need to check their performance in their context to make sure they still work well.

alexb_ 4y ago
I'm in the Air force, and while not relevant to actual camouflage ability, I can personally say that OCPs look much nicer than the uniforms before. A lot of the old camo patterns looked painfully ugly. And the ability to camouflage isn't too relevant for me anyways, unless I'm trying to blend into chairs/desks.
- mensetmanusman 4y ago
  It would be funny to have chairs and desks with the same pattern so you would actually blend in…
  - munificent 4y ago
    Relevant famous old photo: https://soldiersystems.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_6425.jpg https://soldiersystems.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_64...
    - jessaustin 4y ago
      Who left his boots on the couch?!
  - bityard 4y ago
    C'mon, the Army and Marines already give the Air Force enough crap... I can just imagine it now... "Hey Airman Ikea, we need a good desk lamp over here, is that something you can help us with?"
dotancohen 4y ago
> the decision process that resulted in the horribly-ineffective UCP > pattern amounts to: "We want one pattern Just wait until you read how the F-35 was procured. "We want one airplane for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Oh, and it had to include parts from almost all NATO allies, even those who we won't sell it to."
- antisthenes 4y ago
  Tell me you want a jobs program without telling me you want a jobs program.
- vopi 4y ago
  The F-35 ended up being great though. Even now, it's cheaper on a per unit basis than other aircraft that are worse.
  - jessaustin 4y ago
    If you had stopped with the first sentence, we could have written it off as sarcasm. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program appears to be in a state of suspended development, with little progress made in 2021 toward improving its lackluster performance. The latest report by the Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) reveals stagnation and even backsliding in some fleet reliability measures. And that’s just the public DOT&E report. In an unprecedented move, DOT&E is concealing many of the key details of the F-35’s poor performance. For the first time ever, the testing office created a non-public “controlled unclassified information” version of its report, and although there is much overlap between the two versions, the meaningful details about the ever-troubled program are only included in the non-public one. https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2022/03/f-35-program-stagnated-in-2021-but-dod-testing-office-hiding-full-extent-of-problem https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2022/03/f-35-program-stagnated...
    - some_random 4y ago
      It's so interesting how luddite Reformers hold such a sway over the usually techno-optimist HN. Turns out that new technology has teething problems, what a shocker.
foxyv 4y ago
There is an argument out there that the UCP camo patterns were more to make US troops distinct from enemy forces and reduce friendly fire than to provide any advantage for camouflage purposes. That it made American troops extremely identifiable by the distinct look of UCP. I don't know if I believe it, but it makes a little sense. What would have made more sense is if they had allowed tinting it to different colors based on the region. There is an example here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WckhOUMfHk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WckhOUMfHk
autokad 4y ago
when I was playing paintball, some people would wear that junk. they may as well wear bright orange hunting jackets. I can see them easily.
wyager 4y ago
One thing I was surprised to learn about NIR requirements is that it apparently doesn't just mean "dark". I have some coyote brown NIR compliant gear (water carriers etc) and under NIR it has the same shade as grass (which is quite bright, relatively speaking).

alexb_ 4y ago

I'm in the Air force, and while not relevant to actual camouflage ability, I can personally say that OCPs look much nicer than the uniforms before. A lot of the old camo patterns looked painfully ugly. And the ability to camouflage isn't too relevant for me anyways, unless I'm trying to blend into chairs/desks.

mensetmanusman 4y ago
It would be funny to have chairs and desks with the same pattern so you would actually blend in…
- munificent 4y ago
  Relevant famous old photo: https://soldiersystems.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_6425.jpg https://soldiersystems.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_64...
  - jessaustin 4y ago
    Who left his boots on the couch?!
- bityard 4y ago
  C'mon, the Army and Marines already give the Air Force enough crap... I can just imagine it now... "Hey Airman Ikea, we need a good desk lamp over here, is that something you can help us with?"

dotancohen 4y ago

> the decision process that resulted in the horribly-ineffective UCP > pattern amounts to: "We want one pattern Just wait until you read how the F-35 was procured. "We want one airplane for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Oh, and it had to include parts from almost all NATO allies, even those who we won't sell it to."

antisthenes 4y ago
Tell me you want a jobs program without telling me you want a jobs program.
vopi 4y ago
The F-35 ended up being great though. Even now, it's cheaper on a per unit basis than other aircraft that are worse.
- jessaustin 4y ago
  If you had stopped with the first sentence, we could have written it off as sarcasm. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program appears to be in a state of suspended development, with little progress made in 2021 toward improving its lackluster performance. The latest report by the Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) reveals stagnation and even backsliding in some fleet reliability measures. And that’s just the public DOT&E report. In an unprecedented move, DOT&E is concealing many of the key details of the F-35’s poor performance. For the first time ever, the testing office created a non-public “controlled unclassified information” version of its report, and although there is much overlap between the two versions, the meaningful details about the ever-troubled program are only included in the non-public one. https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2022/03/f-35-program-stagnated-in-2021-but-dod-testing-office-hiding-full-extent-of-problem https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2022/03/f-35-program-stagnated...
  - some_random 4y ago
    It's so interesting how luddite Reformers hold such a sway over the usually techno-optimist HN. Turns out that new technology has teething problems, what a shocker.

foxyv 4y ago

There is an argument out there that the UCP camo patterns were more to make US troops distinct from enemy forces and reduce friendly fire than to provide any advantage for camouflage purposes. That it made American troops extremely identifiable by the distinct look of UCP. I don't know if I believe it, but it makes a little sense. What would have made more sense is if they had allowed tinting it to different colors based on the region. There is an example here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WckhOUMfHk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WckhOUMfHk

autokad 4y ago

when I was playing paintball, some people would wear that junk. they may as well wear bright orange hunting jackets. I can see them easily.

wyager 4y ago

One thing I was surprised to learn about NIR requirements is that it apparently doesn't just mean "dark". I have some coyote brown NIR compliant gear (water carriers etc) and under NIR it has the same shade as grass (which is quite bright, relatively speaking).