High Volume Extinction Metal Fibers as Next-Generation Artillery Obscurants

Military obscurants effectively absorb, scatter, or emit radiation in the visible, infrared and millimeter wavelength ranges to disrupt the line of sight between the target and observer. These aerosolized materials play a crucial role in preventing the detection of the US Warfighter by enemy sensors including seekers, trackers, optical devices, and the human eye. Recently, the Army has expressed interest in expanding smoke and target defeat capabilities through the development of an artillery-based bispectral obscurant round. To address this need, Luna and it’s team will synthesize metal fibers that display high extinction efficiencies. Using scalable production methods, Luna’s fibers will display excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal stability to survive the harsh environments found in artillery shells. Luna will fully evalutate the fiber-based obscurant to ensure that the material meets the Army’s needs.  This technology is expected provide a new versatile strategy to metal fiber production that will impact both military and civilian markets.