NAM at IWA 2015: The future direction of A-Tacs

Here is the first report from the NAM at IWA 2015:

The future direction of A-Tacs!

The NAM was quick to take up an invitation to visit the A-Tacs booth at the 2015 IWA Show, as there have been rumors and some announcements in relation to the future direction of A-Tacs for some time. At the A-Tacs booth, we were lucky enough to have the pleasure of Mr Clint Hoover, a 25 year veteran of US Special Forces, and who now spends a lot of time a Fort Bragg training mainly Canadian, but also other Nation’s elite forces, and meeting with foreign military and civilian forces who are keen to take up A-Tacs as a uniform resource. Clint is also now the director of Black Skull Tactical and a well-known consultant and trainer in Special Forces operations.

Our time with Clint was interesting in several ways. Firstly, the number of specialist forces, military and civilian, that are taking up A-Tacs is growing by the month. Clint had just returned from spending time with the Ukrainian Special Forces, who had just taken on A-Tacs for operations. Interesting to note in the current climate was the fact that Russian Spetsnaz had taken the same camouflage! Further to this, Clint also informed us that A-Tacs had also just secured contracts in relation to their new ATX, (Arctic Tundra camouflage) recently seen at the Shot Show, which will be seen on Norwegian and Swedish forces in the near future.

The second interesting point to come from our interview with Clint was how he, and A-Tacs, see Airsoft as a hobby and sport, and how specifically they view Airsofters. Clint informed us that A-Tacs has a lot of respect for those who play Airsoft and had given some thought to the costs that Airsofters expend on getting the look of their uniforms or impression right. They felt that the decisions they have taken on the future direction of A-Tacs camouflage perfectly align with the needs of Airsofters, and are always keen for feedback from players.

So, what is the future direction of A-Tacs camouflage? In short, A-Tacs is changing! A-Tacs, which is currently produced in the AU (desert) and FG (forest green) smudge style pattern, that has become a popular choice with Airsofters, is about to go through a transition to, for want of a better term, a tiger stripe transitional pattern that is designed to be mixed and matched, for the immediate future, with the current line-up. Clint pointed out to us, that when worn, the pattern almost presents itself as a 3d image on the body of the wearer. He told us that in testing the pattern was seen as extremely effective, and several Special Forces had shown interest due to this. In short, the new pattern, known as IX, is designed to bridge the current patterns in a way that increases effectiveness but also allows the current and IX patterns to be mix and match to suit the wearer.

The plan to transition A-Tacs over the next four years has already started with the production of the IX and ATX patterns to meet market needs during 2015, then add the production of the new AU variant starting in 2016, then add the FG variant in the new pattern, starting in 2017. They will then finish the transition period with LE in the new pattern during 2018. Uniforms and accessories will transition at the same time. Therefore, by the end of 2018, A-Tacs would have transitioned to the new pattern, but in a way where the new and the old pattern will work well together. As stated, IX and ATX patterns are now in production and purchase interest is already high. For Airsofters, this transition, and how the new and old patterns will work well together, is good news, and help contain spending on replacing the entire uniform and accessories. Any combination of A-Tacs will work well and will be able to be mixed and matched to suit the environment and player budget.

(NAM)