Fall 2023 Issue

Camouflage and signature management is growing in importance, as more, and more capable sensors are deployed by potential aggressors. Thermal infrared sensors, which until a few years ago were only available to state actors are now inexpensive, and widely available to non-state actors. New technologies, such as short-wave infrared sensors are maturing, and potential threats including hyperspectral sensors and polarization sensitive sensors are being developed. Existing camouflage materials are inadequate to defeat these sensors, which combined with new vehicles to deliver them at close range (e.g. small, unmanned platforms) are a growing threat to NATO forces. The threat is accentuated by the growing deployment of precision, long-range weapons, so that detection & identification will likely lead to attack within a very short time. This leads to reduced freedom of action and degraded force/mission survivability. Materials and technologies developed for civil applications, such as energy conservation, thermal management and smart textiles, are potentially useful for signature management including adaptive camouflage. Examples include low emission coatings, nanotechnologies, and adaptive chromic materials. Such technologies (and others) may be adaptable for military camouflage.