The Russian all season set of field uniforms (VKPO) ( or All-season set of field uniforms in English) (Previously called VKBO - All-season basic kit in English) is a

layered clothing Layered clothing is the wearing of multiple garments on top of each other, often for warmth. Layers Often, clothing combines two adjacent layers, as in the case of warm undergarments that provide both comfort and insulation. Layered clothing ...

system (popularly known as капуста/kapusta "cabbage") manufactured by the Russian BTK Group () and adopted as a standard uniform by the

Russian military The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military of Russia. They are organized into three service branches—the Ground Forces, Navy, and Aerospace Forces—two independent comba ...

, designed for use at temperatures from +15 °C (59 °F) to −40 °C (−40 °F). The initial VKPO kit is in EMR but in 2023, Russia has adopted

Multicam MultiCam is a Military camouflage, camouflage pattern designed for use in a wide range of environments and conditions which was developed and is produced by American company Crye Precision. The pattern has found extensive adoption globally. Var ...

as a standard camouflage of its new Army field uniform kit, VKPO 2.0, VKPO 3.0 and VKPO 4.0.

Description

The full set of VKPO (VKBO) is a multi-level system that includes up to eight layers of clothing. The use of various combinations of these layers makes it possible to provide comfortable work for a serviceman under different weather conditions with different physical loads. The minimum composition of the clothes of the VKPO kit is designed to work at temperatures above + 15 °C. In the maximally insulated VKPO (VKBO) configuration it protects from temperatures down to -40 °C. The ability to combine layers in accordance with the weather and the planned intensity of work is one of the main advantages multigrade set of field uniforms.

The layers

All layers are worn with the basic two-piece

EMR camouflage The EMR () or Universal Camouflage Colorway in English, is a military camouflage pattern in use by the Russian Armed Forces. It is sometimes referred to by the unofficial nicknames RUSPAT, Tetris, Tsifra and Digital Flora. EMR camouflage is the s ...

suit. Layers 1 and 2 are worn under the EMR Summer suit. * Layer 1:

Base layer Layered clothing is the wearing of multiple garments on top of each other, often for warmth. Layers Often, clothing combines two adjacent layers, as in the case of warm undergarments that provide both comfort and insulation. Layered clothing ...

of two types of

underwear Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled ...

both made of polyester, ** a suit consisting khaki roundneck

undershirt An undershirt in American English (vest in British and South African English, banyan in the Indian Subcontinent, or singlet in Australia and New Zealand), is an article of underwear worn underneath a dress shirt so as to protect it from body s ...

and boxer-brief shorts and ** a

Long underwear Long underwear, also called long johns or thermal underwear, is underwear with long legs and long sleeves that is normally worn during cold weather. It is commonly worn by people under their clothes in colder climates. In the United States, it ...

suit with long legs and long sleeves, * Layer 2: fleece long underwear with long legs and long sleeves worn over Layer 1, Layers 3 thru 8 are worn over the EMR Summer suit. * Layer 3: Fleece jacket, in khaki, worn over the EMR summer camouflage suit, * Layer 4:

Windbreaker A windbreaker, or a windcheater, is a thin fabric jacket designed to resist wind chill and light rain, making it a lighter version of the jacket. It is usually lightweight in construction and characteristically made of synthetic fiber, syntheti ...

Jacket in EMR camouflage, * Layer 5: two-piece "Demi-Season" Suit consisting of a water resistant jacket and suspendered trousers, * Layer 6: two-piece water proof and wind proof suit in EMR camouflage, * Layer 7: an insulated, water and wind resistant

vest A waistcoat ( UK and Commonwealth, or ; colloquially called a weskit) or vest ( US and Canada) is a sleeveless upper-body garment. It is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wear. It ...

in EMR camouflage worn typically over Layer 5 or Layer 6, * Layer 8: essentially the " shinel (greatcoat)" of the modern Russian army, though it is designed to be worn with many layers underneath, in EMR camouflage. It serves as both an insulation layer and a shell layer. Per regulations, it is worn with the VKPO winter cap (the modern

Ushanka An ushanka (, , from , ), also called an ushanka-hat (, ), is a Russian fur hat with ear-covering flaps that can be tied up on the crown of the cap, or fastened at the chin to protect the ears, jaw, and lower chin from the cold. An alternativ ...

), VKPO winter mittens, and VKPO winter boots. The VKPO clothing system includes all in EMR unless otherwise noted: * VKPO winter

ushanka An ushanka (, , from , ), also called an ushanka-hat (, ), is a Russian fur hat with ear-covering flaps that can be tied up on the crown of the cap, or fastened at the chin to protect the ears, jaw, and lower chin from the cold. An alternativ ...

hat * VKPO

Balaklava Balaklava ( Ukrainian and , , ) is a settlement on the Crimean Peninsula and part of the city of Sevastopol. It is an administrative center of Balaklavsky District that used to be part of the Crimean Oblast before it was transferred to Sevast ...

in black or EMR * VKPO mittens * VKPO

Haversack A haversack, musette bag, or small pack is a bag with a single shoulder strap. Although similar to a backpack, the single shoulder strap differentiates this type from other backpacks. There are exceptions to this general rule. Origins The word ...

* VKPO

Patrol cap A patrol cap, also known as a field cap or soft cap, is a soft kepi constructed similarly to a baseball cap, with a stiff, rounded visor but featuring a flat top, worn by military personnel of some countries in the field when a combat helmet is no ...

* VKPO tube scarf * VKPO belt in black or olive nylon

webbing file:Webbing.jpg, red, blue and black nylon webbing as used in auto racing harnesses Webbing is a strong Textile, fabric weaving, woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile componen ...

* VKPO black leather combat boots in summer and winter versions. File:ISSE2014-48.jpg, EMR Summer uniform File:ISSE2014-51.jpg, Layer 6 File:ISSE2014-49.jpg, Layer 5 File:ISSE2014-50.jpg, Layer 8 File:Voyennaya-prisyaga.jpg, Soldier in Yudashkin Suit

Description

The layers

References

See also