The European Defence Agency (EDA) has concluded the first phase of a program to develop smart camouflage technologies for military vehicles and equipment.
The Advanced Solutions for Camouflage of Land Systems using smart and adaptive materials (ASCALS) program is in response to the advancement of surveillance technologies such as visible, radar, and thermal detection.
The nearly two-year, 1.3-million-euro ($1.42-million) phase focused on developing materials that can dynamically adjust to different environmental conditions, the EDA said in a press release.
The materials should be able to modify their optical, thermal, and radar signatures to conceal ground-based military systems.
Adaptive materials explored during the phase are liquid crystals, phase-change materials, graphene and electrolyte structures, and controllable meta-surfaces.
ASCALS II
Greece-based Adamant Composites led a consortium of 10 industrial and research entities to execute the phase.
The consortium comprises the University of Luxembourg; TNO, MIS7, and Bolidt from the Netherlands; the Military Institute of Engineer Technology and LUBAWA SA from Poland; CITEVE, INEGI, CINAMIL from Portugal; and the Swedish Defence Research Agency.
The conclusion of ASCALS I paves the way for ASCALS II, which will focus on further advancement of the technologies developed in the first phase.
Field-testing on military platforms is planned for 2027, subject to the agreement of member states.
The first phase results demonstrated promise for ground-based platforms, with the potential for adaptation for air and maritime platforms.
