Next generation uniform developed in China to give the operator an edge in combat thanks to its shielding of body heat. If combined with a compatible helmet, the soldier becomes virtually undetectable for thermal imaging technology. Also features basic protection as opposed to usual uniforms but loses some capacity as a result.
A next-generation combat uniform manufactured in the People's Republic of China[2], the Special Purpose Suit is designed to give the wearer an edge in battle thanks to its usage of unique thermal masking materials. When combined with the Special Purpose Helmet, the user will become virtually undetectable on both infrared sensors and thermal optics.
Compared to regular fatigues worn by conventional CSAT soldiers, the Special Purpose Suit is rated at Level III standards and offers superior protection from small arms fire. Depending on the distance and terminal velocity of impacting projectiles, the Special Purpose Suit will allow the user to comfortably survive up to two direct hits to the torso from 7.62 mm bullets. This is because the wearer's neck, pelvis, abdomen, diaphragm, chest, arms, hands and legs are all fully covered by the suit.
The only drawback of the Special Purpose Suit stems from its extreme stamina cost and limited carrying capacity. Even when the user isn't holding onto anything else, the suit itself consumes 120 "mass"[CfgWp 1] but only provides enough space for just 20 units of ammunition/items.[CfgWp 2] This is barely enough room for either two rifle magazines or a single ammo drum.
Needless to say, bringing along a backpack or harness to compensate for the lack of innate storage will be necessary when opting to wear the Special Purpose Suit.
Hitpoints[]
LEGEND[SCR 1] Green = Abdomen Dark cyan = Arms Orange = Chest Violet = Diaphragm Maroon = Hands Blue = Legs Pink = Neck Yellow = Pelvis
Hex: Arid Hexacam camouflage pattern. Used by Viper operatives in the Mediterranean and North African regions.
Green Hex: Tropic Hexacam camouflage pattern. Used by Viper operatives in the Pacific region.
Achievements[]
With Mark of the Serpent
Have the player's avatar in the Virtual Arsenal equip either camouflage variant of the outfit.
The (optional) helmet is not required to unlock it.
Notes[]
Non-stealthed soldier (left) vs. stealthed operative (right) lying prone on an asphalt road.
Due to the overhaul of ArmA 3's thermal imaging systems in Game Update 2.10[3], the Special Purpose Suit's effectiveness at concealing the wearer from infrared optics has been somewhat lessened as a result of the changes (at close-medium range).
Depending on the terrain's surface type, time of day, weather conditions, and whether the wearer is hiding amongst foliage, they will either be completely concealed (as before the changes) or become visibly identifiable regardless of the toggled spectrum.
This is especially noticeable if the wearer happens to be lying on paved roads or other unnatural man-made surfaces.
Trivia[]
The Special Purpose Suit is completely fictional and is not directly based on any real-world design. However, several elements of the uniform appear to be loosely inspired by concept/prototype designs for Future Soldier programmes like Revision Military's "Kinetic Operations Suit".[4]
On a Twitch livestream event held on March 8th, 2023[5], Bohemia Interactive developer Ivan Buchta stated that before the Special Purpose Suit became its own standalone uniform, it was originally envisioned as the undersuit of CSAT's regular Fatigues.[6]
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgWeapons
↑ 1.01.1CfgWeapons >> U_O_V_Soldier_Viper_F >> ItemInfo >> mass
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 6
↑Man class armor value * HitPoints armor value = 2 * 8
References[]
↑Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2016, Apex, Arma 3, viewed 29 May 2025, <https://arma3.com/apex>.
↑ARMA 3:Apex 2016 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., Special Purpose Suit, "Next generation uniform developed in China to give the operator an edge in combat thanks to its shielding of body heat. If combined with a compatible helmet, the soldier becomes virtually undetectable for thermal imaging technology. Also features basic protection as opposed to usual uniforms but loses some capacity as a result."
↑Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2023, Background, History, and Setting | Discussions with Ivan Buchta and Scott Alsworth, Twitch [Online Video], viewed 21 January 2024, <https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1759425550>.
↑Twitch 2023 [Online Video], Buchta, I, Background, History, and Setting | Discussions with Ivan Buchta and Scott Alsworth, 01:51:15, "Ivan Buchta: The camouflage was basically just the oversuit over this thing. So, I kind of wanted to expose what was under this camouflage garment and add a bit of steroids."