The kit list

Volume 11, No. 56, November 16, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney

MORE than $300 million of proposed purchases have been outlined in the Defence Clothing and Personal Equipment Procurement Plan: 2007-2011 (CPEPP).

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the CPEPP, released on October 27, was the outcome of the independent Clothing Review Team report that recommended better engagement with industry.

“The ADF CPEPP is significant for not only informing industry of Defence’s intentions into the future but providing industry with the opportunity to provide the latest and best available clothing and personal equipment to ADF personnel,” Dr Nelson said.

From socks to advanced body armour, the plan provides details of significant clothing and personal equipment proposals between 2007 and 2011.

“The plan retains flexibility to manage unforeseeable requirements for the ADF through operational deployments and technological development,” Dr Nelson said.

He said the CPEPP would be reviewed regularly and updated versions would be released every year in June.

The Defence CPEPP can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/cpepp.pdf

SOME OF WHAT’S PLANNED

Assault Body Armour Vests with integrated load carriage capability for 4RAR (Cdo); Qty: 1200; Timeframe: end 2006; Estimated cost: $1m-$2m.

Ballistic and Laser Eye Protection for dismounted close combatants; Qty: 6000; Timeframe: end 2006; Estimated cost: $1m-$2m.

Field Jacket, cold weather in Near Infra Red DPCU; Qty: 10,000; Timeframe: mid-2007; Estimated cost: $10m-$15m.

Enhanced Combat Helmet with advanced ballistic characteristics and NFE compatible; Qty: 5000; Timeframe: mid-2008; Estimated cost: $5m-$8m.

Sleeping Bags; cool weather, general purpose in combat and disruptive pattern; Qty: 10,000; Timeframe: mid 2007; estimated cost: $3m-$5m.

Combat Boots; hot/tropical full leather with fire retardant and anti-static; Qty: 30,000; Timeframe: 2009; Estimated cost: $15m-$20m.

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