Abstract:

In contemporary armed conflicts, the means of direct camouflage are being used intensively. These means are not weapons, so their distribution is carried out on a general basis without licenses or permits. The exception is multispectral masking materials, which are licensed. Recently, the need for such measures is further generated by the mass use of UAVs for imaging reconnaissance.  Frequently, the quality of the camouflage nets supplied in terms of thermal masking is not defined and there is therefore a strong need for an objective examination before they are used. The article discusses the properties of several different camouflage net materials. Their transmission was examined in visible light and ininfrared light. The infrared transmission study consisted in testing radiation reaching the measuring camera, derived from the black body standard and human body. The correlation between visible light transmission and infrared transmission has been investigated. Currently, the only formal reference point as to the quality of the material is the NO-10-A208: 2014 standard (Covers and masking kits - General requirements). The test according to the indicated standard is  based on the arbitrary assessment of several observers. The method presented in the article is useful for a rapid qualitative assessment of camouflage nets with regard to thermal camouflage. The results of the studies indicate that the transparency of the net in visible light is not proportional to infrared transparency.