Fibrotex ULCANS camouflage system for the US Army
ULCANS shelter in desert area
Several years ago, the US Army began purchasing the ULCANS camouflage system, developed and manufactured by Fibrotex USA. This product is intended to replace old camouflage nets of a traditional appearance and has a number of important advantages over them. Over time, the Pentagon plans to almost completely transfer troops to such camouflage and does not exclude the possibility of its further improvement.
New disguise
Fibrotex was founded in Israel in the mid-sixties. From the very beginning of her work, she was engaged in the creation and production of new textile materials and products made from them, mainly for military purposes. Elements of equipment and equipment for fighters, camouflage means, etc. have been and are being produced. At the same time, extensive experience has been accumulated for the development of new technologies, materials and products.
In 2017-18 The Pentagon launched the ULCANS (Ultra-Light Camouflage Netting System) program, during which it planned to find the most successful and convenient means of camouflage for the ground forces and marines. Three companies submitted applications to participate in the program, incl. American branch of the Israeli Fibrotex. The competition was entrusted to the US Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick (Natick Soldier System Center).
ULCANS awning on stones
The terms of reference for the ULCANS program required the creation of a camouflage system similar to a traditional network, but with a number of important differences. The customer wanted to reduce the weight of such a product in comparison with existing samples, ensure all-weather use, camouflage from any modern surveillance equipment, etc. At the same time, it was necessary to provide several camouflage colors for different conditions of use.
It was assumed that participants would enter the competition with ready-made samples, and this would speed up the work. They were going to make the final choice in 2019, and then issue the first production contract to the winner. They wanted to equip the first unit of the ground forces with ULCANS systems by the end of the same 2019.
The winner of the contest
In May 2018, Fibrotex USA received an order to supply a new type of camouflage system for use in comparative testing. By this time, it had almost completed the development of its version of ULCANS, and soon handed over to the customer a pilot batch of new camouflage networks. Over the next few months, the Soldier Systems Center conducted the necessary tests, determined the characteristics of the presented products and compared them with each other.
Camouflage shelter for artillerymen
In November of that year, the army selected the winner of the competition. The most successful version of ULCANS was presented by Fibrotex USA. She was given an order to complete the development of a new disguise and then launch mass production. The cost of the contract was $480 million. It was planned to carry out serial production of products of a new type over the next 10 years.
According to known data, Fibrotex ULCANS systems have been mass-produced for several years and are being implemented in units of the US Army. They have been used repeatedly as part of various exercises. Apparently, the combat work of units and formations during some operations was also not without such camouflage. With all this, the production deadlines specified by the customer have not yet been reached, and the number of new camouflage systems in the army will grow. It is likely that over time, ULCANS will completely replace the means of previous generations.
New guidelines
The traditional type of camouflage net has the simplest design. The basis of this product is a mesh of the required size with the required cell size. Ribbons of the desired color and other elements are woven into it to form a camouflage pattern. A network of this type can, at a minimum, make it difficult to detect a covered object by visual methods.
The Fibrotex company proposed and worked on another camouflage option. Its ULCANS system bears no significant resemblance to traditional networks. The basis of such camouflage is a special textile material, which is a fine mesh or loosely woven fabric. This fabric is woven from synthetic thread, the composition of which, for obvious reasons, is not disclosed.
The thread and the material made from it have a low density, due to which the mass of the camouflage as a whole is reduced and its use is simplified. They are also water resistant and the mesh structure reduces the effects of wind. When exposed to fire, ULCANS burns, but goes out when there is no flame.
The ULCANS mesh has a camouflage pattern; the drawing is selected by the customer taking into account his needs and requirements. Due to camouflage, the material blends into the terrain and provides protection from visual surveillance. Thus, the US Army purchases kits in forest, desert and urban colors.
The material used, due to its composition or additional processing, does not transmit infrared, ultraviolet and electromagnetic radiation, and also reflects the rays of these ranges from the surrounding area. Thanks to this, the covered object does not unmask itself with its own radiation, and the mesh itself merges with its surroundings.
Method of installing the ULCANS system on a motor boat using standard racks
ULCANS camouflage is proposed to be used in various ways, and additional means may be used to achieve this. So, to create camouflaged shelters, special stands are offered, on which a net is hung, and a kind of tent is created. The racks have a telescopic design, and in their upper part there is a figure-of-eight support for laying the mesh. With the help of such racks, shelters of the required area and volume are created, having an irregular shape and not attracting the attention of the observer.
Frames of different configurations have also been developed for installing a camouflage system on equipment. In this case, the car literally carries the shelter on itself. Individual camouflage kits of simplified composition are also produced, intended for fighters.
From generation to generation
Since 2019, Fibrotex USA has been fulfilling the Pentagon’s order for the production and supply of a wide range of ULCANS camouflage systems in different versions. Products are produced in different sizes, configurations, colors, etc. With their help, older camouflage nets available in supply are gradually being replaced.
Car camouflage kit
The manufacturing company is also working on further improvements to the existing system and/or developing completely new ones. It cannot be ruled out that in the near future it will present an improved version of ULCANS with certain changes - lighter, capable of working with an extended range of radiation, etc.
However, the ULCANS system is of interest in its current form. Judging by the stated capabilities and characteristics, the development company really managed to solve several important problems. The greatest interest in the project is the synthetic thread and the mesh fabric made from it. Due to their special composition and, probably, coating, they solve the problems of insulation, scattering and reflection of radiation in several ranges. At the same time, it was possible to achieve minimal density and weight reduction.
You should also pay attention to the proposed methods of using the mesh. To solve various problems, unified racks and frames of the required shapes and sizes are provided. With their help, stationary shelters and camouflage of mobile equipment are created.
The ULCANS camouflage system has already been adopted by the American army and is being used. Similar developments by Fibrotex have attracted interest from a number of other foreign countries and are also being mass-produced. This shows that such systems and means really have high performance and meet the needs of the armies. It is quite possible that UCLANS will influence the development of the entire area, and systems with a similar set of capabilities will also begin to appear in other countries, incl. own analogues of the American-Israeli product.
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