The art of invisibility; camouflage coating requirements now and in the future

Marilyn Gilmore

Air and Weapon Systems

Dstl Farnborough

Crown Copyright

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Contents

• Camouflage philosophy

• Current camouflage schemes

• Other requirements

• Potential future camouflage

• Assessment techniques

• Conclusions

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Contents

• Camouflage philosophy

• Current camouflage schemes

• Other requirements

• Potential future camouflage

• Assessment techniques

• Conclusions

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Camouflage philosophy

• Confuse the observer if they do look at you – deception camouflage

• Use tactics (low level flying) – concealment

• Match the background to reduce detectability – concealment camouflage

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Contents

• Camouflage philosophy

• Current camouflage schemes

• Other requirements

• Potential future camouflage

• Assessment techniques

• Conclusions

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Historical Camouflage schemes

• Two tone green and brown

– low level over south-east England

• 1947 RAE report

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Historical camouflage schemes (2)

• Countershading

• ‘Deceptive’ schemes - false cockpit etc

© Dstl 2005

Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Aim of camouflage