STG company introduced a poncho that masks Ukrainian soldiers from enemy thermal imagers
STG presented an individual camouflage kit (poncho) for additional camouflage of soldiers from enemy thermal imaging surveillance equipment at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition.
The poncho's operation is based on the parameters of "Stealth" technology. The technology reduces the likelihood of detection of soldiers in the infrared range and works effectively at a distance of 100 meters.
A thermal imaging poncho is capable of hiding or masking a person's thermal footprint in a forest belt from a distance of 100 m and in open terrain from a distance of 250 m. For comparison, in the USA, a similar device is considered successful if it provides masking properties from 400 m.
The material of the product has low emissivity, i.e. the level of thermal energy radiation. To this end, the poncho has special covered holes that gradually release heat, making the soldier invisible to enemy thermal imaging detectors.
The poncho also has high reflectivity, allowing the signal from thermal imaging cameras to bounce off the fabric and return. This blurs the poncho against the background of the environment.
According to the developer, the poncho developed by the STG team does not lose its camouflage properties for two hours, which was confirmed during field testing in units. After two hours, to restore its characteristics, the product must be temporarily removed and laid out next to it so that it reaches the ambient temperature. The recovery time depends on weather conditions, but does not exceed 10 minutes.
"To produce ponchos, we use polyamide with silver inclusions. Silver has the lowest emissivity among all materials and the highest reflectivity. This makes it an ideal material for thermal masking. We order raw materials for production from our partners' factories, process them ourselves, paint them, refine them, and then sew them," Igor Terekhov, one of the product developers, tells a Defense journalist.
According to the developers, domestic manufacturers of camouflage ponchos today usually use cheaper materials, which affects the effectiveness of camouflage and the durability of the product. For example, they often use aluminum or copper-nickel metallized fabrics.
The disadvantages of such technologies are that such materials quickly lose their technical characteristics after regular washing. The material loses its uniform coating, so spots or "spots" are formed that partially transmit heat and become visible to thermal imagers.
When it comes to copper-nickel metallized fabrics, they have shortcomings in biocompatibility with human skin. After prolonged contact with the skin during the use of such products, irritation may occur on it in the form of allergic reactions to oxidation.
"Our product can be washed in a washing machine, in the usual mode, without aggressive detergents. Together with state laboratories, we tested the materials used in the manufacture of ponchos, ironed them for more than 20 cycles, and then tested and analyzed them again. Our company received the relevant protocols that even after 20 washing cycles, the product does not lose its masking properties," the company representative notes.
The STG team manufactured the poncho in accordance with the Technical Specification developed by the Central Department for the Development of Material Support of the Ministry of Defense. It passed all the necessary military research tests in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, field tests at the State Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Armaments and Military Equipment, and an extensive cycle of testing in units of the National Guard and National Police of Ukraine.
"We have long studied the technologies of various foreign companies that are represented on the international market. In parallel, we worked on our technology, conducted constant tests and trials. We created a camouflage poncho to order and in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense and did not intend to supply them to retail. Now we are ready to supply our products to the state customer," emphasizes the representative of STG Defence.
As a reminder, the Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition was a place to showcase hundreds of Ukrainian defense tech projects. For example, Logics7 presented a new virtual simulator for training military personnel to shoot down FPV drones with a shotgun.