M-1985 TTsKO Camouflage Flight Suit

 

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Su-25 Pilot (1999)
  

The Pilot is Wearing:
The summer weight TTsKO camouflage flight suit and the ZSh-5 flight helmet with the KM-34 oxygen mask.

Gloves and side zip pilot boots complete the uniform.  This representation is correct for 1991 to the early 2000’s.

Sources Cited  

 

Back to Air Force Uniforms
of the Afghanistan War

 

Operational History

The Soviet experience in Afghanistan revealed a need for a low visibility pilot uniform as the standard M-1958 dark blue uniform made it difficult for downed pilots to hide until rescue arrived.  To fill this need the three-color tritsvetnaia kamuflirovannaia odezhda (TTsKO) pattern was authorized in 1984 by Decree of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR #145.  It established the camouflage pattern in a variety of shades for use with the VVS, VDV, and naval infantry.

In the VVS (air force) it fell under the production standard: TU 17-0-17598-84.  The three-color camouflage pattern was new, but the uniform itself was identical in cut to the earlier blue M-1958 summer flight suits.

It is composed of a jacket and a pair of trousers.  The jacket is equipped with two breast pockets and a small pocket on the left sleeve.  The left breast pocket contains a pistol holster for the PM Makarov pistol and a lanyard.  Both the jacket and breast pockets secure by means of metal zippers.  It also includes two metal loops with straps to adjust the fit of the uniform.

The trousers are a coverall-like uniform with suspenders.  It has two pockets at knee level that are secured by zippers and a survival knife pocket on the right pant leg.  Elastic bands at the cuffs help keep the trouser legs secure.

The TTsKO flight suit proved to be very popular and continued to serve with the Russian Federation after the Soviet collapse.  Our example dates from 1997.  It is possible that the uniform is being replaced in the mid-teens as a new pink flight suits have been observed in use by Russian pilots during the fighting in Syria.

 

Tactical Use and Limitations

The TTsKO flight suit addressed the need to protect flight crews through the new camouflage pattern while retaining the familiar cut of the uniform.  In this way it managed to use existing fabric and patterns, thereby saving production resources.

It is a comfortable uniform with the proven ability to fulfill all tasks required of it.  The chief limitation is that it appears to be configured for temperate weather.  It lacks the venting of the tropical uniform and provides little warmth against the cold.  Even so, it has proven to be highly functional and popular with the troops.

   

Service Chronology

Introduced sometime in 1985, the TTsKO flight suit was developed due to a need to camouflage downed pilots.  This allowed them to better escape from their pursuers.  Over the next decade the uniform became quite popular.  It continued in service through the 2000’s and into the early teens.  From here it is unclear determine what uniform replaced it due to the lack of source material.
This Uniform Replaced... M-85 TTsKO Winter Field Uniform (garrison) (VDV) This Uniform was Replaced by...
M-1958 Standard Flight Suit
Uncertain at Present
 

 

Works Cited

(1) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, ВОЕННАЯ ОДЕЖДА ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР И РОССИИ (1917-1990), Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999.

(4) Desmond, Dennis, Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia 1937 to the Present, Atglen: Schiffer Military History, 1998. Print.

(5) Zaloga, Steven J., Inside the Soviet Army Today, London: Osprey Publishing, 1987.

(6) Schofield, Carey, Inside The Soviet Military, New York: Abbeville Press, 1991.

 
Last Updated 4 January 2019 by Ryan Stavka