The Chicom vests and Soviet deals aren't much different anyway -- I'm not sure on the lineage of both, but think the Soviets copied the Chinese vests in the first place. The Chicom vests figured prominently in Vietnam, Rhodesia and other wars from the 1960s/70s time frame, but the first Soviet use I'm aware of is in Afghanistan. (Where, I seem to recall, most Soviet troops also wore locally purchased Chinese athletic shoes since Soviet Army issue boots were not suitable for patrolling on foot.)
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