MIL-T-5661 Type I, II, III, V, VI cotton tape and webbing

The MIL-T-5661 specification, also associated with PIA-T-5661, covers woven cotton reinforcement tape and webbing used in parachute and military textile assemblies.
Cotton provides predictable breaking behaviour and does not melt under frictional heat, which makes certain MIL-T-5661 products useful as intentionally breakable textile elements.

Break tape applications

Type I is commonly associated with calibrated break-tape functions in parachute rigging and deployment assemblies.
Typical applications include temporary retention of parachute components, deployment packaging and cargo-drop systems where a textile element must release at a controlled load.

MIL-T-5661 vs MIL-T-5038

MIL-T-5661 uses cotton and can be selected for calibrated break behaviour. MIL-T-5038 uses nylon and is generally intended as a durable binding or reinforcement tape.

MIL-T-5661 vs MIL-T-5608

MIL-T-5608 is structural nylon parachute tape, whereas MIL-T-5661 is used where cotton material or controlled break behaviour is required.

MIL-T-5661 vs MIL-W-4088

MIL-W-4088 covers heavy-duty nylon webbing for harness and cargo restraint, while MIL-T-5661 covers lighter cotton tape and webbing.