BAE Systems creates infra-red 'invisibility cloak' for tanks

[angeldemon_007]

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, SWEDEN (BNS): BAE Systems has recently tested an ‘invisibility cloak’ that allows a vehicle to blend into its surroundings.

The new cloaking technology is called Adaptiv. It is based on sheets of hexagonal 'pixels' that can change temperature very rapidly. On-board cameras pick up the background scenery and display that infra-red image on the vehicle, allowing even a moving tank to match its surroundings, according to a news release by the BAE Systems.

"We can resize the pixels to achieve stealth for different ranges. A warship or building, for instance, might not need close-up stealth, so could be fitted with larger panels," Project manager, Peder Sjölund, was quoted as saying in the release.

Furthermore, the new technology can also mimic another vehicle or display identification tags, reducing the risk of fratricide.

The system can work over infra-red and other frequencies, and has been displayed in infra-red mode on a BAE Systems CV90 armoured vehicle.

Trials by the company in mid-July showed that one side of a CV90 could be made effectively invisible or appear to be other objects, including a 4x4 vehicle, when viewed in the infra-red spectrum.

The company will debut its new technology at the UK Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition later this month.

 

[Omega007]

Great,now it's high time when our DRDO should start working on a similar system for Arjun MkII.Though their Mobile Camouflage System is really effective,but this kind of active camouflage is of an other league all together,can be of tremendnus help for our panzer formations.
REGARDS.................

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
FMBT should atleast have this tech...

 

[Kinetic]

Good but shouldn't be it in world military section?

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
Yes but i thought we could discuss this in context of arjun mk2...
Also at-least its defense related and not some bus or train accident news or treasure in temple or anna hazare or congress party...

 

[sancho]

That's actually a pretty cool development and I am interested in it, because they use the CV90-120 light tank as the development plattform, which I would love to see in IA. However, I have some doubts about the operational use especially for tanks, I think it's a more useful feature for reccon, or forward observation vehicles.

Btw, the new cannon looks very nice too:

 

[sancho]

P.S. Just found these videos about and it get even better! It's not only reducing, or changing the IR signature like I thought, but can completelly absorb it and it can be adapted on helicopters, or vessels as well (awesome tech)!!!

 

[angeldemon_007]

However, I have some doubts about the operational use especially for tanks, I think it's a more useful feature for reccon, or forward observation vehicles.

Why, you don't think more protection for MBTs is not required ?

@Sancho, man this tech is really cool. We should go for this tech. I mean Mahindra is most likely to field some newer version of CV90 armoured vehicle. I hope this tech is part of this. Although i think it would increase cost of the vehicles.

 

[JayAtl]

kama kama kama kama....Chameleon -- you come and go..

Let's see how many of you young ones remember that song and by whom..

 

[azfar]

it would be a nightmare to maintain it plus how the system's efficiency intact in worst conditions (dirt, mud, raining etc). These test must be made in ideal conditions. But anyway its awesome

 

[JayAtl]

it would be a nightmare to maintain it plus how the system's efficiency intact in worst conditions (dirt, mud, raining etc). These test must be made in ideal conditions. But anyway its awesome

those are very salient points you have made there because it projects the image of the background on these tiles( so dirt , grim , weather conditions effect is a great question to ask) - I’ll go further to ask , once identified how well do those tiles protect the impact and of course costs associated with replacing damaged tiles/ armor..

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Just nuke it ... to cloak heaven

 

[mautkimaut]

Just nuke it ... to cloak heaven

BEst reply so Far....
Nuke individual tanks..

 

[sancho]

Why, you don't think more protection for MBTs is not required ?

@sancho, man this tech is really cool. We should go for this tech. I mean Mahindra is most likely to field some newer version of CV90 armoured vehicle. I hope this tech is part of this. Although i think it would increase cost of the vehicles.

I didn't said more protection is not required, I said I have some doubts on how useful it will be with MBTs, once because I thought then it would "only" reduce the signature, not nearly make it invisible. But also becaue MBTs normally moves in bigger groups, so even if us see only the signature of cars, you would see lets say 10 to 15 cars at once, which obviously gets attention of the enemy. Even if the signature can be reduced that much to make it nearly invisible, the more vehicles you have in a specific field of view, the higher the chance that you will spot the vehicles.
A single vehicle on the other side for recon, or comand missions, would have much advantages from this tech, more over when you can apply this camo on naval vessels, or fighters. Consider a surfaced sub at night that can't be spotted by an MPA, or UAV, because of no IR signature and that is sich a wide area like an Ocean!

Just my first thoughts about it, while I'm trying to get more infos about it and look what I have found too:

Eltics Black Fox

it would be a nightmare to maintain it plus how the system's efficiency intact in worst conditions (dirt, mud, raining etc). These test must be made in ideal conditions. But anyway its awesome

Good points, one more reason why it might not be used on entire tank fleets, but rather on specific vehicles, aircrafts, or vessles for certain roles.

kama kama kama kama....Chameleon -- you come and go..

Let's see how many of you young ones remember that song and by whom..

LOL...Culture Club of course! Man that takes me back, nice one.