Heat-insulation properties and combat effectiveness of thermal camouflage are topics covered quite a few times on Defense Express. Here's another vivid example that successful trials and theory can poorly translate into practical application of this kind of equipment on a real battlefield: featured in a video from the Aerobomber_UA, a Ukrainian military unit specializing in aerial reconnaissance and strikes using copter drones affixed with droppable grenades.
In the footage, we can see a group of russian troops, most likely an assault squad moving out to prepare for an attack, being targeted by a Ukrainian UAV with a night vision camera. The russians tried to conceal their activities by wearing heat-insulating cloaks.
Read more: Ukrainian IR Camera Killer Drone vs. russian Thermal Camouflage (Video)
А что это вы тут ползаете, а?https://t.co/s4g7htI6wB #RussianUkrainianWar pic.twitter.com/hCRAyEO5jK— Necro Mancer (@666_mancer) August 30, 2024
Evidently, instead of helping the soldiers merge with the terrain, all the camouflage did was highlight them for the drone operator. Technically speaking, the camo worked as it was designed to, i.e. it completely nullified the people's heat signatures but in practice, the cloaks were colder than the soil around, making a clearly visible dark spot in the heat imaging sensor.
This example showcases the fatal, although situational, drawback of thermal cloaks in general: they have their own temperature that can be in mismatch with the surroundings. It wouldn't be much of an issue in a forest or when the enemy heat sensors observe the hidden object from below, against the sky background. However, it works against the owner in the plain field.
Notably, the russian personnel believed in the effectiveness of their camouflage: they froze and tried not to move an inch after they heard a drone nearby. Instead, they only became an easier stationary target for the copter, armed with small explosive drops.
The pros and cons of using thermal disguise clothing remains a debatable topic with real-life examples showing how much depends on the proper understanding on the working principle of these garments, specific situations, and quality of the product, of course.
Read more: russians Started Actively Use Thermal Camouflage Against Thermal Cameras: How the Suit Works and How Significant the Threat Is
