(video via BAE Systems)

Today's modern wars are fought with a severe technology disparity between the factions. One side is making improvised explosive devices while the other uses augmented reality to call in air strikes. Despite the differences, the modern countries continue to innovate against a possible war with its hi-tech peers. BAE Systems has just released its "Adaptiv" vehicle camouflage that mimics the heat signatures in its surroundings.

The Adaptiv technology consists of hexagonal "pixels." An onboard camera samples the background and displays the IR-image on the pixels accordingly. The process happens fast enough for a moving vehicle to not even make an impression under IR surveillance. The pixels can also be arranged to make the vehicle look like another. In the video example, a tank is make to look like a Jeep.  The pixels could also be used to display words or a message, if need be.

The project is funded by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, who wanted a focus on IR cloaking. However, the BAE engineers combined the Adaptiv pixels with other electro-magnetic spectrum cloaking devices to provide further stealth coverage.

BAE plans on adapting the technology for warships and buildings. For this application, larger panels will be used.

I would like to see similar technology for use on soldiers. Seeing soldiers get taken out by UAVs at night, via infrared cameras, is disturbing. Again, the battles are usually one sided anyway. I have never heard of a drone on drone battle in any war.

Eavesdropper