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CV90120 'Ghost' ADAPTIV

BAE Systems Haegglunds Ab is developing a unique camouflage system called ADAPTIV, that allows a vehicle to blend into its surroundings, effectively becoming invisible to hostile thermal imaging systems. With peacekeeping operations now often taking place in deserts, as well as forests and towns all in the same day, ADAPTIV is capable of shielding large pieces of military equipment from detection by allowing vehicles to mimic the temperature of their surroundings to suit varying terrain. It can also make a tank look like other objects, such as a cow or a car, or bushes and rocks.

The patented technology 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. Alternatively, it can mimic another vehicle or display identification tags, reducing the risk of fratricide. Current work focuses mainly on the infra-red spectrum, as this is most important to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), which funds part of the work. However, BAE Systems engineers have combined the pixels with other technologies, which provide camouflage in other parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum at the same time to provide all-round stealth, which will be developed further over the next few years.

Night vision systems are used extensively for military and security purposes. These include thermal imaging cameras and ATR (automatic target recognition) systems that automatically classify targets by their thermal signature. In a target-rich environment on a dry, clear night, high-confidence identification requires a thermal image of such features as road wheels, turret shapes, gun tube and exhaust location. Thus, target recognition is a difficult task that requires an expert, so any change of heat signature will create chaos. There are two principle approaches:

1. Detecting infrared radiation, which is a form of energy emitted by all objects regardless of the ambient light conditions, using an infrared camera.
2. Intensifying the small amount of light present, even at night, from the stars and the moon.

Most objects have a radiated temperature either higher or lower than their background. Even if the radiated temperature differences are less than a degree, they can be detected. If there is no difference between the temperature of an object and its background, the object cannot be seen by a thermal imaging night vision system or by infra red based heat seeking missiles. Thermal imaging can see through light fog and mist and, more importantly, through most camouflage. The fire control systems of most armored vehicles have night vision, usually thermal imaging.

Today, solutions based on active countermeasures against infrared detection and tracking can be combined with passive stealth measures; these include infrared jamming (i.e., mounting of flickering infrared radiators to confuse the tracking circuits of heat-seeking missiles) and the launching of infrared decoy flares. Usually, targets are easier to identify at night, because their radiated temperature is hotter than their background. Some targets, such as tanks and APCs, have internal temperature variations that form visible patterns. The shapes of the hottest vehicle parts, such as engines and exhausts, appear bright. Objects with a medium temperature, such as the warm tracks, appear dim. Objects with a cool temperature, such as the cool hull, appear black.

The sources of infrared energy are solar heat, fuel combustion heat, frictional heat, and reflected radiance.

• Solar Heat—comes from the sun and affects the exterior surface of objects. The heating highlights the outline of the object, providing recognition cues to the viewer, which are usually similar to the overall appearance of the target. These shape cues are recognizable out to medium ranges (800 to 1,200 meters) and detected at long ranges (2,000 meters). Since the sides of vehicles have more defined contours, side views are usually easier to recognize than the front views.
• Fuel Combustion Heat—comes from operating engines. The heat is conducted to the surfaces of the surrounding engine compartment. Because engine compartment temperatures reach up to 200 degrees F., the surfaces of these compartments radiate features that can be detected.
• Frictional Heat—produced by the moving parts of vehicles. Its heat is less intense than the high temperatures from the engine combustion. Frictional heat is generated only when the vehicle is in motion and provides long-range cues to classify the vehicle as wheeled or tracked.
• Reflected Radiance—smooth, glossy surfaces, such as windshields and glossy, painted fenders, reflect radiation images from other sources. These reflections can produce odd images.

A gun tube is visible when recently fired, as the gun tube is heated up. Similarly, the transport mechanism becomes warmer and more visible.

All Infrared (IR) direct threat weapons require line of sight (LOS) to be established prior to launch and the in-flight missile must maintain LOS with the target heat source until impact (or detonation of the proximity fuse). IR missiles require the operator to visually detect the target and energize the seeker before the sensor acquires the target. The operator must track the target with the seeker caged to the LOS, until it is determined that the IR sensor is tracking the target and not any background objects. In addition, semi-automatic homing IR missiles detect the missile and navigate by IR sensing of the target.

ADAPTIV was developed and patented in Sweden after FMV and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration commissioned BAE Systems in Örnsköldsvik to produce full-scale technology for land vehicles to avoid detection from thermal sensor systems. After three years of challenging research, a project team of seven people, with expertise in the fields of problem solving, software, sensors, electronics and design, developed this unique solution.

The high tech camouflage system uses modules, which look like cells in a honeycomb to cover the flanks of an armoured vehicle. The modules are made of elements that can be cooled or heated up very quickly as well as controlled individually, allowing different patterns to be created.

The vehicle essentially works like a chameleon, able to mimic its surroundings, or copy other objects such as trucks and cars that can be projected onto the panels from a detailed image bank. The vehicle is also able to signal peaceful intend through flashing text messages across its flank or by creating patterns that can easily be recognized by friendly forces.

The technology could be ready to be put into production in two years primarily for CV90 family of vehicles and in the future used on maritime and air vehicles, which might help to turn a helicopter into a cloud or a warship into a wave. The pixels can also be resized to achieve stealth at different ranges. For example, larger objects like buildings or warships might not require close-up stealth and may be fitted with larger panels to display a lower resolution image.