The new Royal Australian Air Force General Purpose Uniform (GPU) was launched today at the Centenary of Military Aviation Airshow at RAAF Williams – Point Cook.
The dark blue and metal grey uniform was officially launched by Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, AO, who said Point Cook, the historical birthplace of the RAAF, was a fitting location to launch the GPU .
“The purpose of the GPU is to provide a unique and easily identifiable Air Force presence to the Australian Defence and civilian communities, consistent with the Air Force’s distinctive identity and still effective in meeting our service requirements,” AIRMSHL Brown said.
“The new uniform will begin, from today, to replace the current camouflage uniform, also worn by Army, for general base duties and in non-warlike environments such as humanitarian tasks and Defence assistance to the civil community.”
Introduction of the Air Force GPU will be cost neutral over the long term due to uniform production changes, depletion of existing stocks and reforms to standard equipment issue. The new Air Force GPU is less expensive than the current Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) issued to Air Force personnel as it does not have the same camouflage requirements for warlike conditions.
Existing Air Force DPCU production will be reduced and replaced by production of the GPU. It is planned that all Air Force personnel will be issued with a mix of camouflage uniforms and GPUs by the end of 2015.
Images of the GPU launch will be available at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20140377
Further information is available at http://www.airforce.gov.au/gpu
Media contact:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999
Regional Manager Victoria, Public Affairs, Kate Kennedy 0477 706 009
