A brief history of camouflage
Military camouflage for equipment and positions was extensively developed during World War I. The camouflage was primarily visual, and most armies transitioned from colorful to more discrete (e.g., grey, khaki) uniforms during the war. During World War II, some armies (e.g., Germany, the U.S.A.) began to use camouflage patterns to improve visual camouflage. Most armies, however, introduced camouflage uniforms only in the 1980s. With the proliferation of near-infrared night vision devices, they began integrating near-infrared (NIR) camouflage proprieties in their uniforms and vehicle paintings. That’s where most armies still stand today!
What is today’s threat?
In the 1980s, the availability of night vision devices was relatively limited. It was in the 1990s that various armies started to buy larger quantities of night vision goggles and thermal devices, equipping vehicles with night vision devices. The U.S. Army even began fielding lightweight thermal weapon sights.
After 2000 there has been a proliferation of night vision reconnaissance and targeting capabilities throughout the world:
Most modern armies have night vision goggles and NIR LASER pointers for their combat troops. The U.S. Army is even fielding fusion goggles (ENVG-B) to its combat troops;
most armies and hybrid adversaries have night vision goggles and thermal devices available;
thermal weapon sights are installed on most weapons today (e.g., assault rifles, machine guns, antitank weapons). The U.S. Army is fielding thermal weapon sights (IWS-17) for its combat troops;
portable multifunction thermal devices for observation and targeting are largely available;
antitank weapons are equipped with optical and thermal seeker heads (partially with radar seeker head);
most combat vehicles are equipped with night-vision driving capabilities and thermal weapon sights;
reconnaissance vehicles are equipped with long range multifunction observation devices (Electro-Optical “EO”, Short Wave InfraRed “SWIR”, Medium Wave InfraRed “MWIR”);
reconnaissance drones are equipped with EO and Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR)/ MWIR cameras;
loitering munitions are equipped with EO and LWIR/ MWIR seeker heads;
drones and planes are more and more equipped with SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar);
helicopter and plane pilots use night vision goggles and the platforms often equipped with thermal cameras;
the use of vehicle-mounted or ground-based battlefield radars is increasing.
Therefore, on today’s battlefield, the risk of being detected and targeted is not limited only to the visual and near-infrared spectrums, but also to the Ultraviolet (UV), far-infrared (SWIR, MWIR, LWIR), and radar spectrums.
Signature management
Signature management is the process through which the electromagnetic signature of military assets is studied, and then deliberately modified to reduce the likelihood of detection.
Using three-dimensional (3D) multispectral camouflage on vehicles will massively reduce the risk of being detected while static or moving day and night. In addition, the vehicle's visual and thermal signature reduction will render the target acquisition from antitank weapons and loitering munitions much harder, protecting the vehicle and its crew.
Ground troops also must drastically improve their signature management. Observation posts, weapon positions, etc., must be camouflaged against modern battlefield threats, not only from observation and targeting from the ground but also from the air.
Conclusion
As the conflicts of Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine showed, multispectral camouflage for static and mobile elements should be the top priority on the modern battlefield.
Therefore, I think that Signature Management has a bright future.
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