Design Goals for Future Camouflage Systems

Abstract : The objective of this work is goals and specifications for a multi- purpose camouflage system suitable for use by units in a ground army. The principal steps in the methodology are: estimate the surveillance and target acquisition capabilities of battlefield sensor systems; characterize the vulnerability of ground target to surveillance and target acquisition; determine the level of countermeasures required to protect targets against surveillance and target acquisition; and synthesize goals and specifications for a multi- purpose camouflage system to provide protection for most of the targets against most of the sensor systems under most operating conditions. Sensors operating in the visual and infrared spectra (including detectors of target thermal self- emission as well as detectors of scattered light), radars and laser measurement and target designator instruments were considered. Characteristics of sensor systems were used to generate criteria for discriminating among classes of targets. These criteria were used to divide the targets in the Camouflage Critical and Camouflage Sensitive lists into 9 categories. The vulnerability of targets in each category to sensor systems of each type was assessed, high- vulnerability high-importance combinations were noted, and characteristics required of multi-purpose camouflage systems to provide protection in these cases were synthesized. (Author)