Bundesheer camouflage pattern

The Bundesheer camouflage pattern, often referred to as Austro camouflage, is the official camouflage system of the Austrian armed forces. It was developed to protect soldiers effectively in Austria’s diverse landscapes – which range from high alpine regions to dense forests and into the lowlands. 

Austro-Tarn is now a fixed component of the uniforms of all Bundesheer units and is considered a versatile and functional camouflage system. Austro-Tarn is used both in training and in real operations and is part of soldiers’ everyday equipment.

History of Austro camouflage

Austro-Tarn was only introduced in the 21st century as the modern camouflage pattern of the Austrian Bundesheer, replacing older, less flexible uniforms. The official presentation of the “Tarnanzug Neu” took place in September 2017 at a press conference, while gradual issue to the troops began from 2019/2020 onward.

Previously, the Austrian military used various camouflage patterns that were mainly designed for woodland or mountain regions, such as the so-called “Erbsentarn” variants in the 1950s to 1970s. These older patterns were later replaced by single-color uniforms before modern Austro-Tarn was developed.

Structure and characteristics of Austro-Tarn

Austro-Tarn combines organic color patches with clear contours to break up the wearer’s silhouette at medium and longer distances.

Typical features include: 

• Natural green tones with brown and sand accents

• Harmonious transitions between the colors

• Optimized for alpine, forested and flat terrain

• High recognizability within units, yet good camouflage in the field

The pattern is robust, resistant to fading and can be used in all uniform types of the Bundesheer, from combat uniforms to specialized outdoor and field jackets.

Technical details of Austro-Tarn

According to the Austrian Ministry of Defence, the Austrian camouflage pattern consists of six colors arranged in small and large patches. This design was specifically developed to obscure soldiers’ silhouettes in different types of terrain. In addition, the colors are tuned so that their infrared remission values reduce the visibility of the wearer to optronic devices such as night-vision equipment.

The area camouflage print is suitable for a wide range of applications – from wooded terrain to urban environments – and at the same time serves as the distinctive national camouflage pattern of the Bundesheer.

Austro-Tarn – The international comparison

Austro-Tarn is considered one of the most efficient European camouflage patterns, as it combines the requirements of different types of terrain – from alpine regions and dense forests to open areas. In comparison:

• Germany (Flecktarn): strongly focused on woodland and Central European vegetation, less optimized for alpine or open terrain.

• Sweden (M90): cubist pattern, particularly effective in Scandinavian forests and lowlands, less flexible for mountains.

• France (CCE): European woodland pattern, designed for temperate forests, less versatile in other landscapes.

Thanks to this versatility, Austro-Tarn can be regarded as a universally applicable pattern that optimally meets the specific requirements of Austria’s topography while also ensuring recognizability within units.

Austro camouflage at a glance

The Austro camouflage pattern is a versatile and functional camouflage system that is specifically tailored to Austria’s diverse landscapes. It combines a well-thought-out color composition with robust, weather-resistant material and thus provides both visual and electronic protection.

Its wide range of applications – from alpine regions and wooded areas to open terrain – makes it the standard pattern for all Bundesheer units. Austro-Tarn clearly shows how targeted design and technical know-how work together to effectively support troops in the field.

If you want to learn more about digital and classic camouflage patterns and how to use them effectively, take a look at our blog post “Using camouflage patterns effectively” (in German).