"Invisibles" on the battlefield

How disguises help hide military installations from enemy detection systems

The combat experience of a special military operation has clearly shown that any military equipment, both on the battlefield and in the immediate rear, is a priority target for the enemy. Today, a huge arsenal of various technical means is used to detect it. These are reconnaissance drones, satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, mobile reconnaissance groups, as well as various complexes of the most diverse radar, radio-electronic, infrared (thermal), optical high-precision reconnaissance equipment.

How can we protect military equipment and personnel from enemy detection systems? In a difficult situation, it is necessary to resort to effective camouflage, which would provide comprehensive protection for both the fighters themselves and military equipment. But how to do it? Is it possible, for example, to disguise a tank in such a way that the enemy cannot detect it before entering the battle, and ensure its stealth to the enemy already during the battle itself?

As combat experience has shown, the means of protection and camouflage are currently undergoing another stage of their development. In this article, we will talk about new methods of camouflage and passive protection of military equipment and personnel that are in service or are currently being developed.

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Any military specialist knows that it is necessary not only to counter enemy intelligence assets, but also to disrupt the enemy's intelligence activities in various ways and methods. This is one of the most important factors of victory in modern combat. And here, the disguise of equipment, personnel, and military installations is very important.

The applied camouflage means should conceal the object as much as possible, make it difficult or completely exclude its detection by optical, radar, infrared and visual reconnaissance means of the enemy. What is used for this?

First of all, today, as for many decades before, our troops have various types of kits based on camouflage nets and are widely used. With their help, combat vehicles, military installations, headquarters, command posts, bunkers, dugouts, strong points, etc. are masked by turning into certain landscape elements that are not distinguishable against the background of surrounding objects. At the same time, modern technologies and materials from which the protective and camouflage coating is made make it possible to obtain protection from surveillance by various means.

Disguises.
Source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The most widespread camouflage equipment supplied to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the MKT series kits designed to protect stationary objects. Russian companies have created several models that differ in size, configuration, shape and color of camouflage elements. All MKT kits are resistant to water, temperature changes, precipitation, detergents and fuels and lubricants.

Based on a certain number of MKT-type camouflage kits, it is possible to form enlarged UMV kits from them. These are universal camouflage portable kits that are already designed to protect large-sized military equipment, mobile or stationary military installations.

An indispensable "Cape"

Currently, the ground forces of our army and some other types and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are supplied with products made of a special protective material "Cape". This material was developed by specialists from the Research Institute of Steel, part of the Kalashnikov Concern of Rostec State Corporation. The Cape material significantly reduces the visibility of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, self-propelled guns and other military equipment in a wide range of wavelengths.

The kit protects the object from detection by radar and thermal imaging reconnaissance devices, while its deforming coloring provides a certain level of camouflage from optical surveillance devices. This camouflage product has already been put into mass production and is being delivered for use in combat conditions.

Military experts note that equipping Russian tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other combat vehicles with a "Cape" significantly increases their survivability on the battlefield, protects them from detection and, therefore, from destruction by Western weapons, which are actively used by the enemy in the area of their military operations. As noted in Rostec, "today the Cape is becoming an obligatory element of the acquisition of Russian armored vehicles sent to combat zones."

According to the Research Institute of Steel, the use of a "Cape" makes it possible to reduce the probability of detecting a combat vehicle using optics or night vision devices by 30%. The probability of detection and capture by infrared reconnaissance devices and IR homing heads is already falling two to three times. The probability of detection by radar means is reduced by six times. The distance of confident identification of a combat vehicle is correspondingly reduced.

The "Cape" camouflage coating is a synthetic material that is put on top of the equipment in the form of covers or coverings. The material reduces the level of thermal radiation of the tank several times, so that the machine practically merges with the background surface. In the radar range, the detection range of equipment is significantly reduced, in addition, this special material can be made in camouflage colors, further reducing the visibility of military equipment in the visible optical range.

Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation, told RIA Novosti that the special coating "Cape" protects Russian tanks well from satellite and aerial reconnaissance. The "Cape" kits are already being used in the area of a special military operation. The T-90M tank, deservedly recognized by military experts as one of the best in the world based on the results of combat operations, is equipped with such protection. Almost all main tanks used in the combat zone can be equipped with "capes": T-72B/B3, T-80BV. In addition, there is a fundamental possibility of equipping self-propelled guns, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as other army equipment.

The developers of the "Cape" note that other absorbent materials and coatings can be used along with it, which further increases the effectiveness of masking. Reducing visibility in the optical range is achieved by applying deforming staining techniques with special enamels.

The coating with this material helps the heated car to blend into the surrounding area and disappear from the field of view of optoelectronic systems. It also makes it possible to confuse the thermal guidance systems of missiles such as Javelin. The developers of the Cape claim that the kit makes it almost impossible to effectively use high-precision weapons against the equipment covered by them.

To be continued...