Jigsaw camouflage

Jigsaw camouflage is the colloquial term for a camouflage pattern used by the Belgian Armed Forces.

Jigsaw camouflage
Closeup of Belgian Jigsaw camouflage
TypeMilitary camouflage pattern
Place of originBelgium
Service history
In service1956-Present
Used bySee Users
Production history
VariantsSee Patterns

History
Belgian troops saluting in 1993 during a UNOSOM deployment op.

After its adoption by the Belgian military in 1956, it was originally mainly used by Paracommando units.[1] It was subsequently adopted across the Belgian Armed Forces underwent several variations from the original design. The final temperate variation was implemented in 2016.

A distinct jigsaw camouflage pattern inspired by the Belgian precedent was adopted by certain units of the Forces Armées Zaïroises in Zaire, a former Belgian colony, into the 1990s.[2] Similar variants were also produced elsewhere in Africa.

As part of the introduction of the Belgian Defence Clothing System, it was announced that the pattern would be phased out by the Belgian Armed Forces in favour of Multicam from November 2022.[3] The contract was awarded to Sioen and Seyntex with Crye Precision under a budget of €410 million.[4][5]

Patterns

The main four-tone temperate version was officially designated as "Woodland".[3]

A Burundian variant with darker colors and a version with blue colorways were used by the Burundian military and police.[6]

Users

Current
  •  Belgium: Standard camouflage of the Belgian Armed Forces.[4] Being replaced from November 2022 by Multicam in G4 clothing style.[7]

Former
  •  Burundi: Known to be used during the country's colonial period and briefly after independence by Burundian military units.[6]
  •  Chad: Belgian-based jigsaw camo used by Chadian Army in 1980s.[8]
  •  Democratic Republic of Congo: Formerly used by Force Publique and Armee Nationale Congolaise.[9]
  •  Luxembourg: Used by Luxembourgish troops under ISAF command in Afghanistan.[10]

References
  1. Larson (2021), p. 360.
  2. Larson (2021), p. 119.
  3. "Les images des nouvelles tenues de combat pour les militaires belges" (in French). Le Soir. BELGA. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  4. Chini, Maïthé (3 April 2022). "Different camo, fit for women: what Belgium's military's new uniform looks like". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  5. https://sioen.com/en/news/partnership-ssc-and-the-belgian-army
  6. Larson (2021), p. 11.
  7. https://soldiersystems.net/2022/04/04/belgium-adopts-new-operational-clothing-system/
  8. Larson (2021), p. 17.
  9. Larson (2021), p. 22.
  10. Larson (2021), p. 406.

Bibliography
  • Larson, Eric H. (2021). Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781526739537.
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