The Royal Marines are trialling “Harry Potter invisibility cloaks” as they seek to develop an ability to evade thermal imaging technology. The use of thermal imagery to target enemy forces has increased since the start of the war in Ukraine, with both sides utilising the increased capabilities of unmanned aerial systems to find new ways to detect enemy soldiers.
The cloak, officially known as the Saab Barracuda Soldier System, allows soldiers to shield their thermal imagery signature and reduce the ability of the enemy to locate and engage them. Sgt Carl Smith, of X-Ray Company in 45 Commando, said the technology allowed commandos to “blend into every environment”. He told the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS): “The user wears this as a mobile thermal cloak, essentially.
“What that does is protect the user from thermal imagery, especially from small UASs [unmanned aerial systems] what we’re encountering at the minute, and that’s what we need to protect ourselves most from.
“It’s essentially a Harry Potter invisibility cloak for a Commando.”
The cloaks, developed by Swedish weapons manufacturer Saab, has two sides which blend “seamlessly” into a soldier’s surroundings at both daytime and nighttime.
The system, which resembles a traditional poncho used by troops for shelter, allows soldiers to conceal their silhouette and thermal signature.
Sgt Smith added: “What is actually in the system and what it is made of are classified.
“However, what it does do is disperse thermal radiation that comes from the user, meaning he can essentially blend into any kind of environment effectively and making him almost invisible to thermal sensors.”
He added: “This is an essential piece of equipment now, especially with the threats that we are facing in the modern-day battlefield.
“It’s a bit of a game-changer in the way that it is now a protective layer that one can wear whilst transiting rather than just being static.”
Sgt Smith cites the impact of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine as being the catalyst for the purchase of the technology, which he says provides Marines with an additional means of concealment when advancing through dangerous areas and conducting surveillance and reconnaissance.
He said: “In Ukraine, individuals [are] being targeted in open areas where they are not protected from thermal imagery sensors placed on one-way attack drones.
“What this does is give us an extra layer of protection – if you can’t be seen, you can’t be engaged.”