Kamuflirovannyi Letnyi Maskirovochnyi Kombinezon

Kamuflirovannyy Letniy Maskirovochnyy Kombinezon[1] or KLMK (Russian: Камуфлированный Летний Маскировочный Комбинезон, literally "Camouflaged Summer Deceptive Coverall")[2] is a military uniform with a camouflage pattern developed in 1968 by the Soviet Union to overcome the widespread use of night vision optics and devices by NATO countries.[3] This one-piece camouflage suit was soon to become one of the most widely used from the Soviet Union.

Kamuflirovannyi Letnyi Maskirovochnyi Kombinezon
KGB Border Troops wearing the Spetsodezhda in KLMK at the Khorgos Soviet–Chinese frontier post.
Type	Military camouflage pattern
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1968-Present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Soviet-Afghan War Russo-Georgian War
Production history
Designed	1968
Produced	1968-Present
Variants	See Variants

The KLMK is currently being produced.[3]

History

The KLMK was issued to KGB Border Guards in service dress uniforms.[4] It was later seen with their forces sent to Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War.[5]

Design

The KLMK is made with a spatter-like pattern.[6]

Variants

Spetsodezhda

The Spetsodezhda is a two piece camouflage suit worn by KGB Border Troops, the suit was similar to the Afghanka Worn by the Soviet army.

KZS Suit

The KZS (kostium zashchitnoi seti or protective net suit) Suit is a two-piece camouflage suit used in the summer, made of coarse loose weave cotton fabric.[2] It was first issued to Soviet troops in 1975[2] with combat engineers and other forces in Afghanistan before airborne forces adopted it.[6]

The KZS was made to be disposable once it cannot be used any longer.[6]

Users

•  Soviet Union: Known to be used by the KGB Border Guards and the VDV.[1][4]
•  South Ossetia: Used by pro-Moscow irregulars during the 2008 Russian-Georgian War.[7]

References

1. Zaloga 1985, p. 56.
2. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30089911
3. http://soldiersystems.net/2018/03/01/klmk-the-soviets-did-digital-camouflage-first
4. Zaloga 1985, p. 27.
5. Isby 1986, p. 40.
6. Dougherty 2017, p. 70.
7. Galeotti 2013, p. 56.

Bibliography

• Dougherty, Martin (2017). Camouflage at War: An Illustrated Guide from 1914 to the Present Day. London, UK: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1782744986.
• Galeotti, Mark (2013). Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1780961057.
• Isby, David C. (1986). Russia's War in Afghanistan. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-0850456912.
• Zaloga, Steven (1985). Soviet Bloc Elite Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-0850456318.