The central director of the Commissariat of Armed Forces announced Thursday, December 6 that all French military deployed in operation will be equipped with the new generation F3 mesh, from January 2019.
French soldiers will be equipped, progressively from January, a lattice new generation, more comfortable and especially fireproof fabric.
"This outfit, called F3, will equip all our military deployed in operation from January 2019 and will be gradually widespread across all French units," said Thursday, during a press briefing at the Ministry of Defense, the Central Director of the Office of the Armed Forces, Stéphane Piat.
"It is equipped with a closure that rises to the neck, no seam on the shoulders to avoid irritation, and especially it is fireproof. This is the decisive criterion , "he added. "We will have several suppliers, all French, who produce either on the national territory or through subsidiaries they have elsewhere. "
Slim fit and durable mesh
The soldiers sent from January to the Sahel as part of Operation Barkhane will be the first to be equipped with this new trellis. It is made of tear-resistant mesh "Ristop" fabric and designed in a more tailored fit. It exists in camouflaged pattern "Europe", in green and brown, and "Desert", sand colors.
The outfit has been designed to best fit the new, lighter and more resistant bullet-proof vest ( "ballistic modular structure" ), which has begun to be distributed to French soldiers in recent months. Class 4+, it protects even piercing ammunition.
Distribution by correspondence
The quality and comfort of the clothing supplied by the French army is a criticism that is regularly issued by soldiers in recent years. In external operations, it was not uncommon to see soldiers equipped, at their own expense, almost entirely with clothing bought on specialized sites or sports shops.
General Commissioner Piat also announced the establishment, in the first quarter of 2019 , of a centralized delivery platform which, from a warehouse near Troyes, "will allow us to distribute by mail within eight days. , any effect of clothing that can be ordered from an internet portal. "