Combat vehicles need camo on the move, Army says

Slapping tree branches and scraps of netting on tanks will no longer hide crews on a sensor-ubiquitous battlefield, which is why the Army is starting to seek out a Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) from industry, according to a request for information posted today.

Combat vehicles today face “a wide range of modern threats,” according to the Army, like multispectral sensors, satellite and ground-based radar, precision guided munitions and unmanned aerial systems.

“Traditional static camouflaging methods are not applicable when vehicles are moving or operating in dynamic environments, leaving them susceptible to detection and engagement,” the RFI says.

The service’s current stealth capability, the Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) Increment 1, can hide vehicles from infrared and radar detection by suppressing their signature -- but only when they’re parked. And mounting parts of ULCANS to the top and sides of vehicles isn’t a match for today’s “near-constant” intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to the Army.

Vehicles are going to need a system that can tamp down their electromagnetic signature while soldiers drive them; at the top of the Army’s list right now are Abrams tanks, Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicles, according to the RFI.

The Army will require an MCS solution that doesn’t hinder mobility, fits on a variety of vehicles and can integrate with already-mounted capabilities, like protection, targeting and weapons systems. It also needs to be lightweight, resistant to harsh weather, rapidly deployable and easily repaired, the RFI says.

It goes on to say that the MCS must suppress signatures across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, reduce thermal signatures stemming from the exhaust, engine, brake systems, wheels or tracks and “visually and spectrally” change the vehicle’s “recognizable shape” to avoid targeting.

Vendors will need to submit fewer than 20 pages detailing how their solution matches the Army’s needs, along with the readiness level of their technology, an overview of past efforts on the MCS, an estimated price tag and their production ability, the RFI says.

This comes as the Army recently added a $108 million new start for a Vehicle Protection Suite in its fiscal year 2026 budget request, which oversees active, reactive and passive protection systems, including a $15 million signature management paint job that will coat 389 combat vehicles to reduce thermal detection.

Industry responses to the RFI are due Sept 5.