Thermal imaging technology easily 'neutralized' in Russian war

A Ukrainian officer deployed to eastern Ukraine, who goes by the social media name Tatarigami, said the trend had been noted recently when Kiev seized such blankets in the area near Avdiivka, north of the major city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Thermal blankets "bypass" infrared scanners

“According to information provided by our soldiers, Russian special forces groups (DRG) are reportedly using these heat-resistant blankets/coats to avoid detection by thermal cameras and drones,” the officer wrote on Twitter. “A video previously published on a Russian Telegram channel allegedly demonstrated the effectiveness of the product, showing how a soldier can remain undetected under a heat-resistant blanket.”

This is not the first time thermal blankets have been used on the battlefield. Previously, Taliban forces in Afghanistan also used this item to avoid NATO thermal scanners.

Thermal blankets commonly used in medicine and distributed to refugees can easily "blind" thermal imaging systems on the battlefield.

Volunteers fighting in Ukraine have also requested such blankets to help improve the camouflage of soldiers. A Ukrainian inventor has even patented an IR-masking-cloak.

Some blankets and tents that are sold openly have also been shown to be highly effective in preventing detection by thermal scanners. However, they have the disadvantage of still having a speckled border when scanned. However, the results are still much better than the human body in regular clothes, and in the field, it is not easy to detect the difference when scanning a large area.

Russian commandos are said to have used thermal blankets/jackets for night operations.

“Mylar” – a material with the commercial name Melinex or Hostaphan and the scientific name BoPET, is often highly regarded for its ability to prevent heat loss. Blankets made from this material are often provided to refugees in Ukraine in particular and elsewhere in general. With a reflectance rate of up to 97% of radiant heat, “Mylar” is capable of shielding from infrared vision.

Promote the development of thermal camouflage technology

Western military experts say the war with Ukraine has highlighted a long-known weakness in the Russian military: a lack of infrared equipment for night operations, or if it does exist, it is of lower quality than what the US and its allies use.

Taliban fighters have also used insulating blankets to avoid detection by NATO forces in Afghanistan.

For example, until recently, Russia’s most modern tanks relied on Catherine FC, an infrared sight manufactured by the French company Thales. Since 2014, Moscow has been unable to import this item due to sanctions. As a result, Russia has had to start assembling its own equipment amid a significant tightening of the supply of components due to sanctions. Some older Russian vehicles still rely on active infrared illuminators, a technology that makes the user easily detectable.

Meanwhile, Ukraine received shipments of night vision goggles before the conflict began. As a result, its military has shown an overall advantage in night fighting, although it also needs more of the same systems. Such equipment can be extremely effective at detecting concealed troops and vehicles.

Still, Tatarigami says the thermal blankets pose a potential threat on the modern battlefield. “We are not sure if the enemy will distribute these blankets/coats on a large scale. But even if they are used only by small groups or sniper teams, they still pose a significant threat.”

The war in Ukraine shows that thermal sensors are becoming more common, which may force militaries to re-evaluate personal thermal camouflage technology to integrate with other optical camouflage measures in the future.

(According to PopMech)

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