Invisibility cloak could provide military with ultimate protection

The new system, which can work over infra red and other frequencies, utilises patented technology based on sheets of hexagonal 'pixels' that can change temperature very rapidly. The technology, known as Adaptiv, has scanners to read nearby buildings and terrain and can reproduce their pattern of hot and cold on panels on the hull of the vehicle. An infrared image is then produced, allowing even a moving tank to match its surroundings. "Earlier attempts at similar cloaking devices have hit problems because of cost, excessive power requirements or because they were insufficiently robust," said project manager Peder Sjölund. "Our panels can be made so strong that they provide useful armour protection and consume relatively low levels of electricity, especially when the vehicle is at rest in 'stealth recce' mode and generator output is low." According to Sjölund, trials by BAE in mid July showed that one side of a CV90 combat vehicle could be made effectively invisible or appear to be other objects, including a 4x4 vehicle, when viewed in the infra red spectrum. The research has been submitted to Britain's Ministry of Defence for consideration and is currently undergoing more tests.