ABU: Airman Battle Uniform

The Airman Battle Uniform, or ABU, is the latest battledress uniform for the US Air Force.

It is already being issued, and complete replacement of the older Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is expected to be completed by 2011.

It is similar to the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) in colour, but in all other respects is more like the older BDU. For instance, it does not have slanted pockets, or Velcro attachment points like the ACU.

It does have NIR properties (Near Infra-red). It is also Permanent press, meaning airmen can put it on straight from the tumble dryer.

The camouflage pattern is basically a mix of the ACU camouflage, MARPAT (used by the US Marine Corps), and the Tigerstripe camouflage used in Vietnam.

Field items, like utility pouches and mag pouches, are not available in the ABU camouflage pattern.

These items, when worn with the ABU, should be in the ACU camouflage.