Updated: Aug 24
a concise overview about how nature will drive thermal camouflage effectiveness and remote sensing sensitivity
Introduction
Humans have access only to a small portion of reality. Beyond what is immediately perceivable through human senses, atmospheric factors can alter how the unperceivable thermal radiation flows. Atmospheric conditions such as: humidity, barometric pressure, cloud cover, dew point, rain, wind and global electromagnetic irradiance — all influence how thermal energy is transmitted and then computed by thermal sensors.
Anyone that is approaching and using thermal camouflage must take in consideration that the overall thermal effectiveness is the result of a given camouflage technology and how atmospheric conditions interact with such technology. This means that the user has to be knowledgeable in how atmospheric conditions mirror in matter of remote sensing and deception.
Similarly to long range shooting, the user is required to record environmental factors gauging their variations as to understand how thermal camouflage may be impacted in a given environment and time. However, the effort required is generally less than what is needed in matter of long range shooting (this is particularly true for our patented technology).
The Issue
It should be noted that several multispectral camouflage technologies are available on the market, each affected to varying degrees by environmental factors. Many NATO users remain dissatisfied with most thermal camouflage products — largely due to two issues: a lack of understanding of how ambient conditions influence thermal radiation transmission (lack of proper theoretical and practical training), and the fact that many products were neither adequately developed nor rigorously tested before being issued to operational units.
In general, temperate and continental climates pose far greater challenges for concealing human thermal signatures than dry or tropical biomes. As a result, multiple companies that successfully develop thermal camouflage for dry or tropical environments often fail to meet performance requirements in the more demanding conditions of Europe and North America. This makes fulfilling NATO and European operational needs for effective thermal camouflage significantly more difficult.
Our Solution
In 2020, we began developing and field-testing the patented multispectral technology we now offer. Over nearly four years, we conducted an average of one outdoor session per week, collecting environmental data and testing thermal camouflage for hours in all seasons, across temperate and continental climates (Ireland and Italy), in both natural and urban environments.
This intensive program allowed us to gather real-world data and build a deep understanding of how atmospheric conditions influence product performance (and thermal camouflage in general). We applied these insights directly to our designs, pursuing maximum multispectral effectiveness regardless of climate or environmental variation. The resulting knowledge is compiled in a dedicated document provided to end users and partners — explaining the physics behind multispectral camouflage and serving as a practical training guide for soldiers.
In the second part of this article we will treat more in depth the matter of how thermal camouflage is affected by climate and atmospheric changes.