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Russia Boosts T-90M Tanks with New Camouflage to Counter Ukrainian Drone Radars.
On December 15, 2024, images appeared on the social network Telegram showing Russian T-90M "Proryv" main battle tanks equipped with advanced camouflage systems called "Cape" (or "Nakidka"), combined with a radar-absorbing material known as Ternovnik. This modernized camouflage system is designed to significantly reduce the detectability of armored vehicles across multiple spectrums, including infrared and radar, illustrating Russia's efforts to enhance the survivability of its most advanced tanks on the battlefield.
Russian T-90M main battle tanks equipped with advanced camouflage systems called "Cape" or "Nakidka" (Picture source: Telegram)
The Cape system primarily targets thermal signatures, significantly reducing infrared visibility across three critical wavelength bands: short-wave infrared (1-3 µm), mid-wave infrared (3-5 µm), and long-wave infrared (8-12 µm). This multispectral reduction is particularly effective against advanced thermal imaging systems used by reconnaissance drones such as the Shark, Fury, and German Scorpion. By lowering the thermal contrast of the T-90M, the system complicates enemy attempts to detect and target the vehicle in low-visibility conditions or obscured environments, thereby enhancing its stealth capabilities in modern combat scenarios.
In addition to thermal suppression, Ternovnik radar-absorbing material segments integrated into the Cape system greatly reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) of the T-90M, decreasing its detectability by both ground-based and airborne radar systems. Among the radar systems affected are the AN/APY-7 side-looking radar, integrated into the E-8C JSTARS reconnaissance aircraft, used by U.S. forces to monitor ground movements. Additionally, the AFAR AN/ZPY-2 radar is integrated into the RQ-4B Global Hawk strategic drone, a high-altitude reconnaissance platform capable of surveying large areas and detecting ground targets with high precision. By absorbing or deflecting radar waves emitted by these systems, the Ternovnik material significantly reduces the range at which the T-90M can be detected, further complicating targeting efforts by enemy surveillance and strike platforms.
The emergence of these advanced camouflage technologies highlights the growing importance of signature management in modern conflicts. Tanks like the T-90M are high-value targets, whose destruction can influence the outcome of a conflict. Concealment technologies such as Cape are specifically designed to counter modern detection tools, including radar, infrared sensors, and thermal imaging systems widely used by NATO forces and Western-backed reconnaissance assets. However, the real effectiveness of these systems remains to be proven in battlefield conditions. As demonstrated by the conflict in Ukraine, even with advanced concealment systems like Cape and Ternovnik, several T-90M tanks have been captured or destroyed, proving that no technology is entirely invulnerable to precision weapons like Javelin anti-tank missiles or drone-based targeting systems.
The Cape system reflects a broader global trend in the field of armored vehicles, where multispectral camouflage technologies are prioritized to reduce visibility across multiple detection spectrums. Other nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden, have also invested in similar technologies. For example, the U.S. military's Ultra-Light Camouflage Netting System (ULCANS) offers multispectral concealment against radar and infrared detection in various environments, while Sweden's Saab Barracuda system combines visual, infrared, and radar signature reduction to enhance battlefield stealth.
Russia's continued efforts to integrate and modernize systems like Cape on frontline vehicles such as the T-90M highlight the ongoing arms race in camouflage and survivability technologies. Although the effectiveness of these systems in real combat conditions remains under continuous analysis, their deployment demonstrates a clear commitment to reducing the vulnerabilities of high-value armored assets in an era dominated by advanced surveillance systems and precision-guided weapons.