The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) has awarded a series of framework contracts for new combat boots for the Danish armed forces, DALO announced on its website on 22 June 2023.
The contracts cover five different combat boot types: heavy, light, desert, jungle and cold weather.
The heavy and light combat boots are being contracted in two different versions from multiple contractors: UK firm Altberg and Spain’s Iturri will both deliver their versions of the heavy combat boot, while German producers Haix and Stumpp & Baier will similarly supply light combat boots.
The ‘climate-specific’ boots will be supplied by US company PTD, with its AKU- brand desert boot, while Itturi will also supply jungle and cold-weather boots.
Extensive user testing of the ‘finalists’ has formed an integral part of DALO’s evaluation of the bids received for the new boots. Troops from the Danish Army, Special Forces, Arctic Command and Home Guard have taken part in the tests, providing input for the final downselect.
The main general-issue boots will be the heavy and light combat boots. The idea behind awarding multiple contracts to separate contractors for each type of boot is that there are distinct differences in their shape and feel. For the heavy combat boot, for example, a soldier can choose between the models from Altberg and Iturri and this, together with the possibility of fitting different inner soles, allows the soldier to find the boot that best fits. The increased comfort levels as a result are consequently lead to increased combat effectiveness in the field.
The chosen boots, collectively referred to by the Danish armed forces as the ‘Combat Boot System 2024’, are scheduled to be delivered to armed forces depots, ready for issue, from February 2024.
Thomas Lauge Nielsen
