Aug 22,
2024
Words by
Renée Diehl
#Heritage
#CWU 45

Bomber-style jacket with a modern edge:
The CWU 45

Some might argue that the classic MA-1 bomber jacket didn’t need an update, but it got one anyway. Its successor, the CWU 45, has since become a timeless staple in its own right. This jacket solidified its iconic status when it was sported by Tom Cruise in the 1986 action blockbuster Top Gun.


The CWU 45, first introduced for Air Force and Navy pilots in 1972, differs from its predecessor in several ways. The knit collar was replaced with a folded collar made from the same nylon fabric as the jacket, giving it a sleeker look. Additionally, the pockets are positioned higher on the body, and an Alpha Velcro patch adds an extra detail to the left chest.

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Top Gun: The CWU 45 makes movie history

The CWU 45 didn’t just make an appearance in the original Top Gun; it also enjoyed a comeback in the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. To celebrate this iconic pairing, our U.S. colleagues introduced a Top Gun collaboration featuring T-shirts, a Top Gun-branded MA-1, and—of course—a CWU 45 that closely resembles the jacket Tom Cruise wore in the original movie.

CASUAL, CLASSIC LOOK
COMBINED WITH CWU 45
IN REP. BLUE

A bomber, but not a bomber

Yes, the CWU 45 is a bomber jacket, but does it really look like one? It’s the perfect option for those who find the classic MA-1 too bomber-like and want to take things up a notch with the respectable collar. And it’s also ideal for MA-1 fans who’ve worn theirs to death and are looking for a fresh alternative.

ALPHA INDUSTRIES EUROPE

OFFICIAL U.S. DEFENSE DEP. CONTRACTOR
EST. OCTOBER 1959