When they make changes to military budgets it's usually technical equipment etc anyway right? Like they buy more choppers, missiles and so on, not better backpacks lol
Yeah. Those backpacks, like all equipment, have a life expectancy. They're not going to be replaced before their time.
Not always, basic infantry equipment is actually something that is often upgraded on, or atleast should be since alot of countries do it like this.
New weapon lines are being tested for that reason, new uniforms are constantly being developed for that reason and overall equipment like vests + helmets were done in that exact reason.
Just because they do tests, doesn't mean they actually get purchased. Those tests usually are done by private companies who want to make money, not the actual militairy.
Look at the middle-east, CQB happens every day. You can only do that with infantry, that's why infantry equipment needs to be also top notch to compete.
Like I'm glad my country's army uses the HK417 for example, it's a good rifle. Now we just need more fitting uniforms for tactical purposes, our armour plating in our vests is fine.
You're thinking from the perspective of a general, not of a politician. If we were to update our army everytime something better is created, you'd be spending money every year on new gear. It's not how it works. When it is time to replace a certain item (Its life expectancy has run out), it's decided with what to replace it. A compromise between quality and price is found, and because it's so easy to defund the army (Because they don't strike), usually it's the price that is the most important factor. And more often then not, it doesn't actually get replaced until long after its life expectancy because 'hey you're not gonna throw away this perfectly almost always working radio?!!!".
The testing actually leads to new weapon lines being developed, Russia just did it aswell with the AK12/AK15 that is competing with the A545.
They do testing and then whichever guns proves to be the best in every test will be the one which will be massively produced for their army.
It's also not about updating everytime something new is created, ofcourse that'd be a huge money sink since new stuff gets released all the time.
But when you're using the same uniforms from the 90s then it's actually time for upgrading imho. Uniforms don't really ''break'' but they can actually prove to be less effective overtime as other countries show their new camouflages being better to cover surroundings than your current uniforms are.
That's the whole case with the Dutch Woodland camo, it's quite outdated and it's so easy to get nowadays that sometimes it can also be hard to identify which troops are which.
Rebels own woodland pretty much all over the place.
I'd still say that if the budget goes up then the Dutch army aswell could get uniforms, they have been thinking about it for a few years and tested a few uniforms. It's said that a new uniform will be fully implemented between 2017-2018 although I have to wait to see that for myself since I am not entirely sure if they'll follow up on their promises this time.
The army could strike though but I guess it'd cause a heavy backlash, it's not something Western militaries do quite often but I remember seeing documentaries about militaries in the regions of Africa just deciding to say ''fuck it'' and leave with the people who didn't agree with the payment they were receiving. Quite funny to watch actually.
Also I'm Dutch, I come from quite a military family so that's why I'm interested in this. Trying to enlist myself aswell.
