Multi-spectral camouflage

The English zoologist Hugh Cott, in his 1940 book Adaptive Coloration in Animals, wrote that some caterpillars such as the eyed hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellatus, and tree frogs such as the red-snouted treefrog Hyla coerulea, are coloured so as to blend with their backgrounds whether observed in visible light or in infra-red.

[14] Similarly, other companies such as the American-Israeli "Fibrotex" and "Ametrine", and the Greek "Intermat Defence" proposed their own products ranging from static vehicle camouflage fabric to multispectral spray paints.

Saab AB began offering a multi-spectral personal camouflage system known as the Special Operations Tactical Suit (SOTACS) as early as 2005.

The Meta-material Microwave Absorber improves stealth capabilities against Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging by wave absorption across a wide spectrum.

[18][19] In the last decade other companies developed their own individual multispectral camouflage, such as the Israeli "Polaris Solutions", the American "Relv Camo", and the Italian "ProApto".

German Marder 1A5 with Saab Barracuda mobile multi-spectral camouflage
The caterpillar of the eyed hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellatus is camouflaged to match a leafy background in both visible and infra-red light.
An example of individual multispectral camouflage. The showcased suit provides simultaneous camouflage in the VIS and LWIR wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Credits: ProApto Camouflage
An example of individual multispectral camouflage. The showcased suit provides simultaneous camouflage in the VIS and LWIR wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. The soldier thermal signature matches the surrounding environment. Credits: ProApto Camouflage