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Magic fog discovery will provide high-tech camouflage
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Copyright ) 1997 Nando.net
LONDON (December 5, 1997 01:17 a.m. EST http://www.nando.net) -- Defense
scientists in the United States are working on the ultimate smoke
screen. They have developed an artificial fog that will keep the enemy
in the dark but not the soldiers who advance under its cover.
The new stealth camouflage, called Magic Vision, will not just confuse
the gunners on the other side, it will also baffle their infrared
detectors. The details of the technology -- developed by the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va. -- are hazy.
According to this week's New Scientist, it is still in the early stages
of development and scientists are reluctant to discuss it. But the idea
is that the smoke cover will absorb or scatter radiation in the visible
and short wavelength infrared. The smoke generator will be light enough
for one person to carry, along with five gallons of fuel. It will have
to generate a cloud big enough to mask a small group of soldiers, who
will be equipped with smoke screen-penetrating goggles. And it must hang
around as long as possible to cloak their activities.
"Perhaps most difficult of all, DARPA wants to make the smoke non-toxic
and environmentally friendly," says New Scientist.
The research adds a new twist to the old art of military camouflage.
A naval development called Sea Wraith, unveiled earlier this year,
envelops an entire ship with a fine spray of water from thousands of
tiny nozzles. The idea is that the droplets will mask the ship from
prying eyes in the visible and infrared wavelengths, but let the ship's
radar beam out.
Most of the great military stealth effort, however, has gone into making
planes covered with a paint that absorbs radar beams, so that they are
not reflected back to detectors.
Earlier this year scientists announced a catch: the paint washes off in
the rain.
By TIM RADFORD, The Guardian
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