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Russian Special Forces new combat gears SEK equipment 11307171

Military Defense Industry Technology - Russian Special Forces

Russian Special Forces received new modern combat gears SEK Special Equipment Kit.

Special forces soldiers of several Russian security agencies have received unique futuristic combat gears. The special equipment kit (SEK) comprises several layers of clothing to withstand harsh weather conditions. Also the SEK includes bulletproof load bearing vests, backpacks, knee pads and a few dozen uniform items. The kit has been developed and manufactured by the 5,45Design Company in the framework of the ALLMulticam project, writes the daily Izvestia.

Russian Special Forces perform demonstration during defense exhibition.

Currently, only a few elite special forces units in the United States, Germany and Great Britain have combat gears similar to the SEK. According to experts, there were serious difficulties with the mass production of high-quality combat clothing and equipment in Russia just a few years ago. But now Russia’s special forces units are receiving ready-made gears that are in some respect superior to their foreign counterparts.

As Izvestia was told at 5,45Design, works on the special equipment kit began in 2014. By now, the tests of the kit have been completed. It is currently in large-scale production and is being supplied to a number of Russian security agencies. Moreover, special forces soldiers are already actively using the SEK in their service and combat activities both in Russia and beyond.

"The kit includes several subsystems," Ivan Lobanov, 5.45Design’s lead specialist in combat gear development, told Izvestia, "The first subsystem is a combat uniform that includes several layers, ranging from thermal underwear and to a winter suit. The second subsystem is the personal equipment that includes a load bearing vest with armor elements, several versions of backpacks, cartridge pouches, and a helmet. The SEK also includes special camouflage suits, knee pads, goggles, special masks, waterproof gaiters and a thermal mat. There are several headgear variants, including a baseball cap and cold-weather caps. "

The SEK clothing makes it easier for special forces soldiers to perform a combat task at a temperature of +30 to -50 degrees. The soldier can continuously move, fight, climb mountains and perform other active actions. Also, he can practically remain immobile in the frost for several hours to several days with no problems, for example, by taking a place in an ambush or going on guard.

Depending on the assigned task, the soldier simply puts on a combination of several layers of clothing. For example, in hot terrain a special forces soldier wears a special tactical shirt made of moisture-absorbing fabric, as well as summer thermal underwear. This combination of layers quickly removes sweat from under the bulletproof vest and the load bearing vest. If a soldier has to act in heavy snow and at low temperatures, he will put on a light jacket and a suit with a wind-moisture-proof membrane over it.

Russian Special Forces perform demonstration during defense exhibition.

The load bearing vest is an important element of the SEK. It is well suited both for actions during raids in mountains and forests, and for storming buildings in urban conditions. A ceramic armored plate, inserted into the vest, can withstand a bullet fired from an SVD sniper rifle from five meters.

"The VKPO multi-layer clothing ensemble is being supplied to the Defense Ministry’s units," a special forces officer told Izvestia. "The VKPO is good for infantry, paratroopers and combined-arms reconnaissance troopers, but it is of little use for special operations units. The SEK has incorporated the latest trends in equipment and battle clothing from the world’s leading manufacturers. Of course, some of its components were made after a fashion of foreign products, but previously we had to buy such things at our expense. For example, the same combat shirts and tactical pants with integrated kneepads. Now we get it from the state. Earlier, only some elements of the uniform and equipment were made by Russian manufacturers."

The soldiers of the American Delta Force and DEVGRU special mission unit, the British 22nd SAS (Special Active Service) regiment and the German KSK (Kommando Spezialkr·fte) elite special operations unit are considered the best-equipped special forces units in the world. On average, the equipment kit of each soldier of these units costs over $100,000, recalls the newspaper Izvestia.