About Us

Born of purpose

In 1959 Alpha Industries was commissioned by the Department of Defense to design and manufacture high performance outerwear for the US military. The company quickly became synonymous with developing the iconic MA-1, M-65, and N-3B trusted by soldiers, sailors and aviators to protect them from the most dire conditions across the land, sea and air. Alpha went on to become one of the biggest suppliers of apparel for the US military. Today, Alpha's mission is to protect and inspire heroism in all forms by outfitting men and women to realize their limitless potential.

Heritage jackets

1. The MA-1 flight jacket

The MA-1 (mil-spec number: MIL-J-8279) became the flight jacket of U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots and ground crew. It was designed for use in temperatures of 14-50 °F. Alpha's first contract for the MA-1 came in 1963 with a substantial design update to bright orange lining and reversible construction for visibility in a pilot rescue scenario. Alpha was the original purveyor of the MA-1, arguably the most popular military flight jacket of all time.

2. The M-65 field coat

The M-65 field coat (MIL-C-43455) was first introduced in 1965; the specification was standardized in September 1966. The M-65 was an upgrade to the M-51 and M-43 field coats that had been used in the Second World War and Korean War by the U.S. Army. The M-65 became an integral part of a new cold weather clothing system with various components, including trousers, liners and hoods, which could easily adapt to many different weather conditions. The field coat was used extensively in the Vietnam War where the days were warm but the nights were much colder. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Alpha manufactured over 550,000 M-65 field coats for the US Army and Marine Corps.

3. The N-3B cold weather parka

The N-3B parka (mil-spec number MIL-J-6279 & MIL-P-6279) was produced in the mid ‘50s for USAF aircrews, both men and women, who were assigned to transport troops in extremely cold climates. The sage green parka replaced the N3A jacket which was done in Air Force blue. Alpha’s very first government contract was awarded by the US Navy in 1959 to produce the N-3B cold weather parka.

4. N-2B short waist parka

Alpha Industries was awarded the contract for the N-2B parka in 1963 by the U.S. Department of Defense. The N-2B was used by U.S. Air Force pilots and ground crews in extreme cold weather conditions. The shorter length of the parka made movement easier, and unique 'pass through' front pockets allowed pilots to reach into their pants pockets without subjecting their hands to freezing temperatures.