Adaptiv
Adaptiv is an
Technology
In 2011, BAE Systems announced their Adaptiv infrared
For crypsis, the panels can display an infrared image of the vehicle's background; this can be updated as the vehicle moves. For mimesis, an image of a chosen object, such as a car, can be retrieved from Adaptiv's library and superimposed on the background. The illustration shows Adaptiv mimicking a four-wheel drive car, using part of the panel, while the rest of the panel is cryptic, imitating the natural background.[3][4] The technology is said to reduce the range at which a vehicle would be detected to less than 500 metres.[5]
The panels forming Adaptiv's pixels are hexagons approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) wide.[3] They are robust, contributing to the armour of the vehicle that carries them.[3] The system allows its operator to "grab" a thermal image from a vehicle or other object for display.[6]
Adaptiv was developed by BAE Systems AB's survivability programme at Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, initially for Combat Vehicle 90 infantry fighting vehicles.[4] The company has developed a lighter version which has been tested on helicopters.[7][2] A version for ships could in principle use larger panels.[4] A somewhat similar system was prototyped to an early stage by the Israeli company Eltics in 2010.[8]
References
- ^ "Innovation Adaptiv Car Signature". Image of Adaptiv technology. BAE Systems.
- ^ a b Perry, Dominic (14 September 2011). "DSEi: BAE eyes 'Adaptiv' camouflage to cloak helicopters". Flightglobal. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d "BBC News Technology". Tanks test infrared invisibility cloak. BBC. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Adaptiv-A Cloak of Invisibility". BAE Systems. 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ Eshel, Tamir (5 September 2011). "BAE Systems to Unveil Adaptive Camouflage Cloak for Combat Vehicles at DSEi". Defense Update. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ Mraz, Stephen J. (20 October 2011). "IR camouflage lets tanks hide in plain sight". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-78274-498-6.
This helicopter is covered in ADAPTIV hexagonal panels. The ADAPTIV system has a library of images it can display, though for a helicopter the best option is to match the surrounding thermal conditions.
- ^ Schechter, Erik (1 July 2013). "Whatever Happened to Counter-Infrared Camouflage?". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 19 February 2017.