Tasmanian defence company CBG Systems has signed a new contract with Hanwha Defense Australia to supply a custom camouflage outfit for new Redback infantry fighting vehicles which makes then more difficult to detect and also significantly cooler inside.
The SolarSigmaShield Mobile Camouflage System reduces infrared and radar signatures and features the Australian Army’s camouflage colour pattern.
This is a fabric-based design which attaches to vehicles with magnets and straps and is readily removable.
Chris Brown, CBG business development manager, told ADM that CBG would manufacture and supply the mobile camouflage systems for all 129 vehicles to be acquired through project Land 400 Phase 3.
He said this was a multi-layered textile fabric which reduced vehicle signature across a variety of spectrums.
“It can be removed and fitted as required. It’s custom-made precisely to fit the vehicle. It is made in a number of pieces that fit on specific locations,” he told ADM.
“You would deploy the system when operating the vehicle and leave it on for the duration. When you come back to barracks, you’d remove, refurbish and pack it away.
“It can remain on the vehicle for a long period of time. We have seen it fitted to vehicles successfully for six months.”
Brown said field testing has shown surface temperature can be reduced by 15 degrees and the vehicle interior by 10 degrees. Radar signature can be reduced by up to 10 decibels. The camouflage pattern is standard Australian Army brown/green/black.
CBG has been working with Hanwha Defense Australia for a number of years. It’s under contract to provide the same system for the new AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers.
“We have a great relationship with Hanwha Defense Australia and they are very supportive of Australian SMEs to provide support for their capabilities,” Brown said.
He said this technology would be suitable for other Army vehicles such as the new Abrams tanks, as well field deployable infrastructure.
“We have also done significant testing with DSTG around prevention of delamination of transparent armour. This product has proved very effective,” he said.
Transparent armour is the expensive heavy bulletproof glass on vehicles such as the Bushmaster, which tends to delaminate under the hot Australian sun.