“Nic nevidím” (“I can’t see anything”) – Czechs joke about the new camouflage pattern being developed for their soldiers. In early August 2026, the Armáda České republiky (Czech Armed Forces) began military trials of the MAD21 pattern, which is intended to replace the vz. 95 camouflage that has been in use for more than three decades. This does not mean, however, that the uniforms will be replaced immediately. The first uniforms featuring the new camouflage are not expected to reach users until early 2029.
Earlier, still in 2026, Czech soldiers will begin receiving field uniforms with a modernized cut, but still featuring the vz. 95 pattern. The changes will include a more practical arrangement of pockets, improved comfort and functionality, and the use of fabric containing elastane. According to army representatives, the material should also provide better breathability. The new uniform cut and MAD21 camouflage have been developed as two separate projects from the outset, meaning that there is no need to wait for the entire new camouflage program to be completed before introducing changes to the uniforms.
The abbreviation MAD21 stands for Maskovací design 2021 (Camouflage Design 2021) and refers to the year in which the concept was developed. The pattern was designed not only for use in woodland environments, but also in open terrain, dry areas and urban environments. Ultimately, MAD21 is intended to replace both the woodland and desert variants of the current pattern, reducing the need to maintain two separate sets of uniforms.
The Czech MAD21 draws directly on the national vz. 95 pattern – its characteristic shapes have been retained, but their colors have been changed. One of the modifications was the replacement of black with dark brown, while additional colors, micro-patterns and tonal transitions are intended to provide greater versatility.
The Czechs considered switching entirely to the popular MultiCam pattern, but ultimately opted for a domestic solution. The decision was justified by the desire to retain a distinct national identity for the uniforms and avoid licensing fees. This does not mean, however, that foreign experience was completely disregarded – as early as 2022, program representatives stated that solutions found in camouflage patterns based on the MultiCam concept had been used when selecting the colors.
The impetus for the development of MAD21 was the book "Kamufláž: Kapitoly z dějin designu pozemního a námořního maskování" by Tomáš Chory, a graphic designer, painter and sculptor from Palacký University Olomouc. He was invited to cooperate with the military team, and the pattern proposal he prepared within two weeks became the basis for further development. Around 60 people were involved in the program, including soldiers, logisticians and university staff. The design was registered as a European Community design as early as November 2021, and in February 2022, the University of Defence presented the first fabric samples featuring the digitally developed pattern.
The next stage of the project involved laboratory testing conducted with the participation of the Military Research Institute in Brno. The tests included an assessment of the camouflage properties and the preparation of a Czech Defence Standard, which is intended to define production and quality-control requirements. Development documentation called for MAD21 to be tested on polyamide fabric of the Cordura type, ripstop fabric made from cotton, polyamide and elastane, and fabric made from cotton, polyester and elastane. The camouflage was intended to reduce the detectability of soldiers in both the visible-light and infrared ranges. These details refer to prototypes, however, and therefore do not yet determine the final material composition of the production version.
In parallel with MAD21, a winter camouflage uniform is also being tested. Some items of equipment, including gloves and caps, have already been matched to the colors of the new pattern. Together with the future insulated clothing, they are intended to form a coherent set. MAD21 itself has not yet been formally introduced into service. Procurement can begin only after the military trials have been successfully completed.
Photos: Armáda České republiky
