The United States Marine Corps is planning to deploy a full-body thermal camouflage cloak aimed at shielding soldiers from drones equipped with thermal sensors. This initiative reflects the rapid changes in modern warfare, particularly the insights gained from the conflict in Ukraine regarding the drone’s ability to easily locate troops.
The Marine Corps Systems Command has issued a notice seeking suppliers for the development of what is known as the Multispectral Camouflage Overgarment (MCO). This innovative design aims to minimize the thermal and optical signature of soldiers across multiple detection ranges used in aerial surveillance, according to reports.
As per the technical specifications, the garment must conceal its wearer across five primary sensor ranges, including the visible spectrum, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and longwave infrared. These ranges are predominantly utilized by modern reconnaissance systems mounted on drones.
Lessons from the Ukraine Conflict
This initiative is a direct response to the revelations from the war in Ukraine, which has transformed into a large-scale testing ground for drone technology. Both sides of the conflict have employed low-cost commercial drones equipped with thermal cameras capable of detecting human body heat even in darkness, smoke, or light foliage—conditions that previously offered effective concealment.
Documents from the Marine Corps indicate that the new camouflage cloak is essential for enhancing soldiers’ survival on the battlefield. It is expected that Marines will use it during training and operational deployment, although it will not be utilized within permanent military bases.
Strict Technical Requirements
The U.S. military has laid out stringent requirements for this project. The cloak should prevent detection by the naked eye from aerial platforms at distances of at least 1,000 meters while also providing protection from mid-wave thermal sensors mounted on drones up to 5,000 meters away, which is over three miles.
Despite these high standards, the cloak must remain lightweight and practical for use. The maximum weight has been capped at around 3.5 pounds, with a preferred target weight of no more than 2 pounds.
The design is required to be a single piece covering the entire body, enabling quick wear over military uniforms and gear in less than 15 seconds—a critical factor in combat scenarios where rapid concealment can mean the difference between survival and detection.
Additional requirements include the garment’s ability to withstand up to 50 wash cycles and its usability in the field for a period ranging from 90 days to a full year.
Broad Deployment Plans
The number of cloaks requested underscores the significance of this initiative to the U.S. military. The Marine Corps aims to acquire 13,000 cloaks by 2027 and plans to increase that number to 61,000 by 2030, enough to outfit a majority of deployable forces.
Previous International Experiments
Although this project represents a new step for the U.S. military, some foreign armies have already begun employing similar technologies. For instance, the British Royal Marines have adopted a multispectral camouflage cloak known as Barracuda, produced by the Swedish defense company Saab.
A Shift in Military Camouflage Philosophy
The MCO program signifies a transformation in the military camouflage philosophy of the U.S. Marine Corps. The current military uniform known as MARPAT is effective in hiding soldiers from the naked eye, but it remains detectable by shortwave infrared sensors—technology that is now widely accessible even in low-cost commercial sensors.
Through the MCO program, the U.S. military seeks to bridge this technological gap by providing advanced camouflage capabilities to all troops in the field, rather than just specialized units, in an effort to adapt to the realities of modern warfare where drones are a crucial factor in revealing ground troop locations.
