Camouflage Netting for LADAR

The next generation of Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) must conceal assets against detection and surveillance from a wide range of current and emerging threat systems. These threats include LADAR, radar, and multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imaging sensors. While current camouflage systems provide concealment against most of these threats, they fail to protect against LADAR. Through holes in the net, LADAR systems can sense assets concealed below the net. Additionally, the smooth catenary or bowl-shaped appearance of deployed nets can cue LADAR detection.ThermoAnalytics Inc., together with Saab Barracuda USA and Milliken & Company, will develop preliminary designs for strategies that deny or confuse LADAR detection of camouflage nets and assets. In the Phase I effort, the team will evaluate and estimate the performance of the strategies, create 3D models of net designs to identify strategies that can minimize catenary effects, and generate 3D point clouds using a LADAR simulation to investigate the effectiveness of the most promising strategies. Throughout the effort, the team will design in compatibility with the other requirements for ULCANS including concealment from other threat sensors, ventilation for thermal and wind loading, durability in field environments, lightweight, low cost, and short strike and erect cycles.