Being well-camouflaged is one of the greatest advantages during combat, and in the constantly developing world of sensing technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult for armed forces to act without being observed. Saab Barracuda is responding by developing the latest innovative camouflage solutions that are helping to safeguard people and society.
Claes-Peter Cederlöf, Head of Marketing and Sales for Saab Barracuda, explains that “effective camouflage provides you with the ability to act first. It allows you to stay static when you need to, and creep closer to the enemy when the time comes.”
In today’s complex and turbulent world, Saab remains at the forefront, providing the world’s armed forces with camouflage solutions for almost every conceivable combat configuration – for use in static situations, on moving vehicles such as tanks, and by individuals working in climates ranging from arid deserts, to arctic tundra and tropical jungles.
2D and 3D nets
The static net range includes both two and three-dimensional nets suitable for military use in a diverse range of natural environments. While the 2D nets work most effectively in flat settings such as arid deserts and snow-covered terrain, the 3D nets offer major advantages in areas that are much more complex and textured. “Both types of camouflage are multispectral and have different properties and features,” explains Cederlöf. “While the 2D net is just one layer of material with an added pattern, the 3D net has two layers with a base material providing strength and the second layer creating a leaf-like fringe. This provides far superior coverage in woodland environments.”
Saab’s innovative developments in radar technology closely imitate the colours of nature in the near-infrared part of the spectrum so the nets can blend seamlessly into their surrounding environment.
Multispectral protection
The most advanced static nets in the range provide protection from detection across the full electromagnetic spectrum – from UV and the visual spectrum through to infrared; short, medium and long-range thermal imaging; and radar from 0 to 100 GHz. The nets are not only multispectral but multifunctional, and are sold as one net without the need to pair it with a separate thermal sheet.
The static nets come in a range of standard sizes that allow them to be easily deployed to protect assets, including tanks, artillery, light armoured vehicles and command centres. With a bank of thousands of camouflage patterns and colours to choose from, the nets can also be tailored to meet specific needs, with very few limits on the types of camouflage that customers can request.
Responding to today’s threats
Today, the newest threat is the development of hyperspectral sensors. These are capable of dividing up the electromagnetic spectrum to actually detect what an object is made of, so they are extremely difficult to evade. As they require a lot of computer power, they are not yet in use, but will reach the field eventually.
Saab is responding to these threats by conducting trials with its own hyperspectral sensor, establishing techniques for deceiving even the most sophisticated detection devices. The innovative creativity and sophisticated excellence of the engineering team is keeping pace with these developments to ensure that Saab’s camouflage systems retain their ability to provide the power of concealment, giving armed forces the confidence and coverage they need in combat.
