Deception and camouflage in times of high-tech conflict

They are certainly one of the oldest and most popular war tactics. Images of painted soldiers, camouflage clothing and tanks camouflaged with branches and foliage are familiar images from both the media and cinema. The Trojan Horse from Greek mythology is certainly one of the best-known deceptive manoeuvres. In the Second World War, the US Army relied on this tactic and fooled the German Wehrmacht with its so-called "ghost army" and inflatable tanks. What was already proving useful back then is becoming more and more decisive in war today. Niklas Ålund, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Saab Barracuda, explains, "Rapid technological progress means that armies can barely get close to the enemy without camouflage systems and deceptive manoeuvres, and need an incredible amount of resources – be it weapons or troops – to succeed. Those who have not mastered camouflage, concealment and deception today have little chance of winning conflicts. And that is not going to change any time soon." For soldiers, camouflage means above all safety.

Changing times

Leading armies were able to rely on their size, strength and firepower for many decades. Smaller countries like Sweden had to use other methods and tactics early on. It is no surprise then that the Swedish defence company Saab has been developing camouflage solutions under the Barracuda brand since the 1950s. Saab has also been part of a NATO group developing the requirements for the alliance’s signature management since the 1960s. Today, Saab supplies customers in more than 60 countries and is the world market leader.

The dramatic growth of satellite, drone and sensor technology in recent years has made battlefields ever more transparent and CCD (Camouflage, Concealment, Deception) systems have entered into a new era. Technical equipment such as drones are becoming cheaper and can be equipped with state-of-the-art visual or thermal sensors. At the same time, commercial satellite services provide detailed images of the most remote parts of the Earth's surface within a very short period of time. When armies supplement this surveillance data with images from their own reconnaissance, a very precise picture of their opponents' operations emerges. For soldiers being protected while in heavily camouflaged vehicles or quarters isn’t enough anymore. Without personal camouflage, one soldier could reveal the location of an entire unit. It is therefore hardly surprising that these developments are prompting even large military forces to adapt their strategies accordingly. "At the end of 2022, the US Army published its new FM 3-0 Doctrine. Camouflage and deception have taken on a superior role in it and have become guiding principles," Ålund states.

Multispectral signature passivity

So how does camouflage work? Beyond the visual range, there is a wide spectrum of physical factors that sensors can detect. This is why camouflage in a military context is also referred to as signature reduction. When developing CCD systems, the entire electromagnetic spectrum must be considered. This includes the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared signal range, as well as the shortwave infrared, thermal infrared and radar signal range. "With camouflage systems, you must ensure that no emissions are emitted or reflected. But multispectral signature passivity is at least as important. This means that emissions are absorbed. Camouflaged objects thus merge with their respective environment and are only visible and identifiable to sensors from the immediate vicinity," explains Ålund. The Barracuda Personal Camouflage Poncho for soldiers already mitigates 70% of the thermal signature. The three-dimensional garnish also disrupts the contours of the soldier for additional visual camouflage, which forces the enemy to move closer in order to engage.

Saab Barracuda’s thermal net and camouflage poncho are both lightweights with no more than 600 g or 1.5 kg – an important factor for soldiers in order to stay manoeuverable. In situations not needed the net can be neatly folded away into a small, carriable bag. The camouflage poncho is designed to be comfortable like a combat uniform but provides the flexible cover, for both soldier and personal equipment, of a camouflage net With a two-sided reversible design, the Barracuda system is extremely versatile and can perfectly adapt to changing day and night conditions. The net and poncho are highly customizable and seamlessly blend into any environment, even complex ones like the Arctic. "The camouflage for a soldier must not only blend in with the environment in terms of colour, it must also mimic the same temperature as the environment. Intense cold and storms, and significant temperature differences between the environment, vehicles and people have to be compensated for", notes Niklas Ålund. A thermal net is therefore the utmost protection for soldiers without limiting their range of motion. 

The decisive second 

CCD capabilities are needed in every phase of an operation, from preparation, through to attack and defence. “While the enemy has no idea where you are, you can observe your surroundings or the enemy under camouflage nets and plan attacks. Especially in close combat, this gives you decisive seconds,” explains Ålund. He adds. “Nine times out of ten, history shows that the winner is the one who takes the initiative here and controls their opponent’s decision cycles by a minimal advantage.”

If you know about the possibilities of camouflage and deception, you can not only better protect your’ own troops, but you can also keep opponents – who may be superior in other areas – in check. This is currently being observed in the Ukraine conflict, where, according to reports, dummy tanks have already been used to mislead the Russian air force. Companies producing decoys like this use materials such as artificial silk. Consequently, the total weight of a fake tank is only about 100 kilograms. As few as four soldiers are enough to operate the dummy; the fake military equipment takes 10 minutes to unpack and inflate.  "Of course, you can tell from close up that it is not a real tank, but aerial photographs or satellite images cannot. If the enemy attacks a tank like this or positions their troops there, then they are using up resources that they will then be lacking elsewhere."

All or nothing

When armed forces act together, it is important that they coordinate their CCD systems. If even one soldier, one unit or one platform is not camouflaged, the entire operation could be in danger as a result. The flexibility and compatibility of camouflage solutions are therefore already key considerations during the development phase. Communication between units on land, in the air or at sea will also become increasingly important. Researchers at the German Fraunhofer Institute, for example, are currently looking at how aerial reconnaissance can communicate with the camouflage clothing of ground troops in order to protect soldiers. The institute is working on an information system that is in contact with aerial reconnaissance in order to change the colour spectrum of the camouflage clothing, for example, so that it cannot be detected by the optical sensors of a drone flying overhead. Saab is also investing heavily in research. All CCD products build on each other; the pace is set by rapid technological progress. Research into new and even better sensors as well as feedback from customers has a significant influence on the research work so that Saab can design the ideal camouflage for every need and every platform. Added to this is training, which is at least as important as the product itself. At the Barracuda Academy, customers learn how to use their own signature analysis to continuously optimise their camouflage. "Only those who understand how signatures interact with each other and what influence they have on the adversary's sensors can fully exploit the added value of CCD systems," Ålund explains.

In early 2023, Saab signed a new contract with the French defence procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement) for the delivery of multispectral Barracuda camouflage systems. In addition to the delivery of state-of-the-art CCD systems for the French Army's operational activities, the contract also includes a joint work phase in which Barracuda camouflage solutions will be specifically adapted to the French Army's operational requirements. Niklas Ålund, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Saab Barracuda, explains why this is so important, "Developing the materials is one thing. But knowing how to use them best, where, when and in what combination – that's what ultimately matters. The number of sensors will not decrease in the next few years, so it is clear that the need for multispectral camouflage will continue to increase."

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