SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of 26,449 Advanced Multi-Spectral Camouflage Nets (MSCNs) to enhance the stealth capabilities of its critical equipment across diverse terrains, including Plains & Jungle, Desert & Semi-Desert, and High-Altitude Area (HAA) Barren Mountain & Snow-Bound regions.
This ambitious initiative, announced by the Ministry of Defence, aims to counter modern aerial and ground-based electromagnetic (EM) sensors, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to bolster indigenous defense manufacturing. The RFI, detailed by Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), underscores the Army’s focus on lightweight, durable, and adaptable camouflage solutions to reduce detection by advanced surveillance systems in contested environments.
Scope of the Procurement
The RFI outlines the procurement of Advanced MSCNs in three categories tailored to India’s varied operational landscapes:
- Plains & Jungle: 12,056 units for use in lush, vegetated regions like the Indo-Gangetic plains and Northeast India.
- Desert & Semi-Desert: 10,276 units for arid regions such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, critical for operations along the India-Pakistan border.
- HAA Barren Mountain & Snow-Bound Areas: 4,117 units for high-altitude regions like Ladakh and Siachen, where extreme cold and sparse terrain pose unique challenges.
These nets will camouflage critical assets, including vehicles, weapon systems, command posts, and ammunition dumps, reducing their visibility to aerial and ground-based sensors. The total order of 26,449 units reflects the Army’s intent to equip its forces comprehensively, ensuring operational readiness across static and mobile platforms in diverse theaters of operation.
Technical Specifications and Performance Requirements
The Advanced MSCNs are designed to provide concealment across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, countering modern surveillance technologies such as:
- Visual Spectrum (380–780 nm): Blending with natural backgrounds to evade optical detection.
- Ultraviolet (UV) (300–380 nm): Minimizing reflections in UV-sensitive environments.
- Near-Infrared (NIR) (800–1200 nm): Reducing signatures against night vision devices.
- Infrared and Thermal Infrared (IR & TIR) (3–5 µm and 8–12 µm bands): Minimizing heat contrast to evade thermal imaging systems.
- Radar (Microwave Bands): Reducing radar cross-section (RCS) to counter synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and other radar-based detection.
Key performance parameters include:
- Operational Temperature Range: Functional from -20°C to 60°C, ensuring reliability in extreme environments like the Siachen Glacier and Rajasthan deserts.
- Low Thermal Signature: Designed to minimize heat contrast with surroundings, enhancing protection against thermal imaging.
- Lightweight and Durable: Easy to deploy, with resistance to environmental degradation from UV radiation, moisture, and heat.
- Fire Resistance and Weatherproofing: Capable of withstanding harsh conditions while maintaining structural integrity.
- Modularity and Reversibility: Dual-sided designs adaptable to complementary terrains (e.g., green for jungle, white for snow) and modular configurations for various platforms.
- Long Operational Life: Conforming to the latest military standards with minimal maintenance requirements.
The MSCNs must be compatible with both static installations (e.g., command posts) and mobile platforms (e.g., T-90 Bhishma tanks, Arjun MBTs, and artillery systems), ensuring versatility across operational scenarios. Their design should facilitate rapid deployment and retrieval, critical for dynamic battlefield conditions.
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