Informative Sessions on Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) Camouflage
The United States (U.S.) Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (CCDC-SC), Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), and US Army and Marine Corps' Product Managers will provide informative sessions on Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) camouflage at the upcoming "Joint Advanced Planning Brief for Industry (JAPBI)" on 6-7 November 2019 at Cherry Hill, New Jersey, hosted by Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Clothing and Textiles. These sessions will introduce to upcoming changes to camouflage spectral reflectance requirements in the Near Infrared (NIR) as well as new SWIR requirements and test methodology to the textile industry.
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The detection of US Warfighters is an ever increasing threat on the battlefield with the advent of cheaper and better spectral imagers. The emerging threat of the proliferation of SWIR sensors requires the development of advanced signature management technologies to keep our Warfighters protected and allow them to safely complete their mission. Material camouflage developments for the Warfighter has historically focused on the Visual (VIS) and NIR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The emerging SWIR sensor threat now requires the development of SWIR mitigating materials. For the past few years, the Soldier Protection Survivability Directorate (SPSD) of CCDC-SC and NSWCDD have been focusing on the development of SWIR mitigated printing technology for textiles. This work has been sponsored by the US Army Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM SCIE), the US Army Product Manager Soldier Protective and Individual Equipment (PM SPIE) and the US Marine Corps Systems Command - Product Manager Infantry Combat Equipment (PM ICE). CCDC-SC will lead in the transition, resourcing, and release of the SWIR apparent reflectivity values, as well as the characterization and measurement procedures. Changes to military specifications and purchase descriptions (PDs) for inclusion of the new requirements and test procedure will be implemented for specific US Army and US Marine Corps uniform materials and end items of interest.
New SWIR and NIR target values and test methodology of US camouflage patterns have been established. This data establishes a single apparent reflectance target value in the SWIR and NIR spectrums for each color of the US Marine patterns (MARPAT) Desert & Woodland) and US Army's Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) as well as solid colored Coyote materials . Substrate fabric types and styles include, but not limited to, Flame Resistant fabrics, Nylon/Cotton blended fabrics, and 500 Denier 100% Nylon fabrics, and webbings in camouflaged patterns and solid colors, as well as other fabrics of interest. A final "Summary Table of Validated SWIR/NIR Target Values" will be addressed as replacements for NIR spectral requirements within selected military specifications and PDs and will introduce new SWIR target values for military clothing and individual equipment. Validated SWIR/NIR Target Values will be available to camouflage printers and others in the military textile industry once a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is signed. Information related to target values are currently considered restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The need to coordinate the signing of NDAs with interested companies is required before release of the SWIR/NIR Target Values.
SESSIONS: Two sessions at the JAPBI have been established. One session will provide technical information on the background of SWIR camouflage, background (terrain) data collection used to establish the target values, and the apparent reflectance calculator to assess NIR/SWIR spectral conformance to new SWIR requirements and revised NIR requirements. Another session will focus on US Army's and USMC's acquisition strategy and schedule for requirement changes. Both sessions will have a limited time for Q&A. There will also be an opportunity to schedule a meeting with Government personnel after the 2nd session on November 7, 2019.
James Fairneny, Email james.g.fairneny.civ@mail.mil - Anabela Dugas, Email anabela.dugas.civ@mail.mil
