Developing military fabrics is a race against technology. Foxa CEO Johanna Rämö explains what IRR properties are all about and how, for example, drones are changing the requirements for camouflage.
Forest green, brown, and dark patterns. The purpose of camouflage fabric is simple: to blend a person’s outline into the surrounding landscape. However, camouflage that works well in daylight can behave quite differently in the dark if the opponent is using night vision goggles.
– The idea behind the camouflage pattern is to blend into the environment. This same principle must also hold true when the fabric is viewed through an image intensifier,” says Johanna Rämö.
In the dark, it’s not just color that matters
An image intensifier harnesses the ambient light to form an image of the subject. The fabric’s near-infrared reflectance properties also affect how distinctly the garment stands out from its surroundings.
This is controlled by the fabric’s IRR (Infrared Reflectance) properties—that is, by adjusting the fabric’s reflectance behavior in the near-infrared spectrum. The goal is not to make the wearer invisible, but to reduce the contrast between the garment and its surroundings, even when viewed through an image intensifier.
To the naked eye, two camouflage patterns may look very similar, but when viewed through an image intensifier, their behavior can be completely different. One blends well into its background, while the other may stand out clearly from it.
“If IRR properties are not taken into account, a fabric that otherwise blends well into the terrain—and the person wearing it—can stand out very clearly from their surroundings when viewed through an image intensifier,” Rämö explains.
Taking IRR properties into account is a natural part of military fabric design, as this allows camouflage to be assessed both in daylight and with night vision devices.
IRR properties are integrated into the color and printing formula
The IRR property is integrated into the fabric’s material, dyeing, and printing solutions. The desired reflective behavior must therefore be taken into account as early as the product design phase.
– This is not a matter of adding a single substance to a finished camouflage pattern. The fabric materials, as well as the dyes, pigments, printing recipes, and finishes used, form a unified whole that must meet the requirements for both visible color and IRR properties.
At Foxa, camouflage and IRR properties are monitored through measurement. Target reflection ranges are defined for different colors, and the measurement results must fall within these ranges.
Extensive experience and an archive of past projects help us find solutions where the right color, camouflage, and technical requirements come together.
– Then there’s the washing and care of the garments. These must be done correctly to ensure that the fabric’s properties are preserved as well as possible during use and from one wash to the next.
Camouflage patterns are selected based on the environment
Even excellent technical properties are of no use if the pattern is used in the wrong environment. The fabric’s colors and pattern must work together specifically in the terrain and conditions for which it was designed.
Finnish coniferous forests, the open farmland landscapes of the Baltics, and the desert environments of the Middle East are all very different from one another.
Camouflage patterns often also reflect national identity and recognizability. However, the operating environment is crucial for effective camouflage: what kinds of colors, surfaces, contrasts, and variations are present there?
In the Arctic winter, the conditions change once again. A snowy environment requires camouflage specifically designed for it. Finland has a long history of using snow suits, and according to Rämö, Foxa receives many inquiries about different snow camouflage patterns.
“If troops are deployed from the south to Arctic conditions, we need to consider what kind of equipment they’ll need for camouflage,” Rämö points out.
Drones bring a new perspective to camouflage
Traditionally, a soldier’s camouflage has been viewed largely from ground level: what does a person look like in their environment when viewed from the front or the side? As drones become more common, observation can also take place from an oblique angle above or directly from above.
– Viewed from above, the terrain looks completely different. Just look at an aerial photo on a map to see what a Finnish forest looks like, Rämö illustrates.
– This inevitably raises new questions regarding camouflage design as well.
At the same time, it’s important to distinguish between different detection technologies. The IRR feature, designed for image intensifiers, does not, on its own, solve the problem of detection using thermal cameras. Managing thermal signatures is a separate challenge in its own right.
According to Rämö new camouflage solutions are constantly being sought, but it is particularly important to keep in mind the basic function of the garment: it must allow for smooth movement and operation in the field.
– When it comes to personal gear, one practical solution for reducing thermal detection could be a lightweight cloak or cover that can be deployed as needed.
– Camouflage fabric serves a fundamental purpose in the military, but its effectiveness must be evaluated in an increasing number of ways and from an increasing number of perspectives going forward, Rämö notes.