In a landmark defence collaboration, four Nordic states have launched a joint $500m (~€425m) procurement programme to acquire a common Nordic combat uniform (NCU) system.
The combat uniform deal marks the first time that the armed forces of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway have united behind a joint procurement project.
The NCU project is being led by Nordic Defence Cooperation, or NORDEFCO, the central pan-Nordic organisation for military co-operation.
Sanna Laaksonen, a special advisor to Finland’s Ministry of Defence, said: “At present, military organisations in each of the Nordic countries have their own combat uniform systems. In the future, there will be a common Nordic uniform and auxiliary equipment.”
Finland’s capital investment in the NCU is estimated to reach $70m.
The NCU contract has been put out for tender in a competition that Nordic government officials expect will attract a high level of international interest.
A core benchmark in the contract is that the NCU meet a rigid extreme-climate standard, including an optimum level of performance for uniforms customised for Arctic and warm weather conditions.
NORDEFCO is aiming to have a new NCU fully tested and operational within the four Nordic armed forces during the second half of 2021.
The Nordic combat uniform acquisition project is being run by NORDEFCO under a technical arrangement agreed upon by the four Nordic states in connection with NORDEFCO’s Cooperation Armaments Working Group Nordic Combat Uniform project.
