The proliferation of reconnaissance and surveillance assets coupled with highly accurate precision guided munitions has made the use of camouflage, cover, and concealment essential on the battlefield.
The combat adage “if you are seen you can be hit, if you are hit you can be destroyed” has taken on a new certainty as demonstrated in the conflict in the Ukraine. A great deal of public attention has been given to military efforts attempting to address the later side of this battlefield reality by introducing additional protective measures for vehicles. These include applique armour, explosive reactive armour (ERA), protective cages, and active counter-measure systems. These, however, often come at great expense while increasing weight and, thus, potentially adversely affecting mobility. Of course, these measures cannot the employed by the individual soldier or many non-vehicle-based weapons, like towed artillery, or other systems.
Therefore, one section in recent field after-action report by the Ukrainian Army about its experience with the Strv 122 Main Battle Tanks of the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade which were provided by Sweden. Among the various adaptions made to the Leopard 2A5 models was the inclusion of the Barracuda Modular Camouflage System (MCS) developed and manufactured by SAAB Défense.
The Barracuda MCS is specifically aimed toward reducing the visual, infrared, and thermal signature generated by the object to which it is applied. As a SAAB representative explained “The objective of MCS is to allow the tank or other item to become inconspicuous and blend into its surroundings. Doing so makes the concealed asset more difficult for an opponent to detect for as long as possible and increased the challenge to specifically identify what he has detected should he suspect he sees something of interest. Simply incusing uncertainty by an enemy offers advantage for the camouflaged system allowing them to gain the element of surprise.”
Camouflage induces a delay in the opponents ability to observe, orient, decide, act on the situation he is faced with, thus, surrendering the initiative. Given it is well established that “the one who identifies, and fires first is the one that most often wins in an engagement” compromising an opponent’s ability to detect and identify oneself as a threat and target offer critical benefits. MCS reduces the range with which opponents can detect making them vulnerable to effective friendly fires and response.
By focusing on both defeating the technical aspects of surveillance systems and their operator’s perception of the surroundings, MCS makes the targeting task more difficult. It, thus, provides an additional layer of passive protection that is equally effective against simple and more sophisticated weapon systems including drones, loitering munitions, and other weapons that rely on either operator direction or autonomous homing strike.
The Barracuda MCS camouflage is designed to significantly reduce visual, infrared, ultraviolet, and radar wavelength detection. This not only is intended for evading enemy surveillance but also allowing the tank or other system to manoeuvre and operate undetected. Achieving these last attributes is one of the key benefits of MCS (and similar designs) over traditional camouflage nets/screens in that the covered system is fully able to move, fire, and conduct all necessary functions and operations unhindered by the MCS.
The Barracuda MCS materials also effectively reflect, absorb, and disperse outside heat including sunlight. Thus, the interior temperature remains lower which as favourable for onboard electronic equipment and crew comfort.
The modularity of the MCS design approach allows it to be adapted to different types of military vehicles and weapon systems simplifying logistics. In fact, Sweden and Ukraine are actually among a broad number of militaries that have adopted modular camouflage further demonstrating the recognition of its efficiency and direct battlefield value.
by Stephen W. Miller
