Inconspicuous Taggant for Combat Uniforms

This development work will explore innovative technologies to be added to textile fibers or fabrics used on the combat uniforms for the purpose of combat identification. The proprietary material will be designed to work over all frequency ranges from UV to beyond the 12 micron range. This work will investigate technologies that will allow materials to be instantly and intelligently recognized as unique or genuine and be covered/removed from use as desired by the user. The taggants will be imbedded or applied to applicable textile substrates and be invisible to the unaided eye. All materials developed for use as taggants will be nontoxic and will be designed to have no adverse affect on any of the functional properties of the current materials or garments. The taggant will be designed to have a variety of easily changed, mission unique combinations to decrease the likelihood of compromise. The taggant will be detectable by instrumentation that is currently fielded and operating in frequencies other than near infrared, such as those operating in the 3 to 5 and 8 to 12 micron range of thermal imagers, or by low-cost equipment that can be easily fielded that will recognize the desired electromagnetic frequencies. The taggants will not add significant weight to the Soldier's garment and will be completely passive, not requiring any power input. The proposed approach will yield a low cost easily fielded technology to increase Soldier survivability and decrease the threat of fratricide.