The next battlefield may be closer than expected – Ukraine already has the lessons

The European security architecture is entering a phase in which the line between ‘active warfare’ and a ‘potential theatre of operations’ is rapidly disappearing. In Ukraine, the full-scale conflict is already a daily reality that shapes the development of military technologies. Here, solutions are tested not in theory, but under conditions of continuous contact with the enemy, the mass employment of UAVs, and persistent reconnaissance activities.

The scale of these changes is also confirmed by the pace of the ‘dronisation’ of the war in Ukraine: in 2025, around 820,000 confirmed drone strikes on targets were recorded, a significant proportion of which were against personnel. According to military sources, up to 70-80% of tactical reconnaissance on the front line is conducted by drones, many of which are equipped with thermal imaging cameras.

It is in this context that the Ukrainian company STG Defence developed a comprehensive solution:

- a poncho for camouflaging military personnel that reduces the probability of detection in the near-, short-, medium-, and long-wave infrared ranges (NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR) at distances starting from 100 m;

- a shelter that reduces the risk of detection of firing positions, artillery positions, command posts, armoured vehicles, and aircraft by thermal imaging systems and radars at distances starting from 500 m.

From a local development to an international defence product

STG Defence has more than 20 years of operational experience. The company has accumulated substantial practical experience in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and in implementing projects for the defence sector. The Thermal Signature Poncho has been assigned a NATO NSN, has successfully passed laboratory and field testing, and has been approved as a reference sample within the Technical Specifications of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Similar developments in the field of anti-thermal imaging camouflage are currently available only in a limited number of countries, including the USA, the UK, Israel, Canada, and Ukraine. At the same time, it is Ukraine that currently possesses the most relevant combat experience in applying such solutions under the high-intensity conditions of modern warfare.

STG Defence manufactures a unique product to its own technical specifications. The basis for managing the signatures used in multispectral camouflage clothing is supplied from the US. The production chain is carried out in several European countries by STG Defence’s manufacturing partners in accordance with technical specifications, quality control procedures and acceptance criteria. All logistics chains are under the company’s full control.

Thermal Signature Poncho as a personal thermal camouflage solution

The Thermal Signature Poncho is designed on the principle of thermal signature management where the key objective is not to block heat but to minimise the temperature contrast between the soldier’s body and the surrounding environment.

The material is manufactured from a nylon base with silver, which reflects infrared radiation while simultaneously dissipating thermal energy. A key feature is the coating technology, which allows its reflective and emissive properties to be adapted to different types of terrain, including forest, sand, and snow. As a result, the user's thermal signature is brought as close as possible to the background environment, making detection by infrared surveillance systems more difficult.

- The poncho operates across several infrared bands – NIR, SWIR, MWIR and LWIR.

- The material makes low noise while moving, which is critical when performing tasks in close proximity to the enemy.

- A key advantage is the product’s low weight – approximately 880 grams.

- The poncho is easy to transport, folds compactly, and can be conveniently attached to equipment.

- The material is durable and retains its properties for up to 50 wash cycles.

- The poncho is compatible with all camouflage patterns and additional treatment solutions.

- It retains its protective properties even during 4 hours of continuous use.

The Thermal Signature Poncho is an essential camouflage solution for reconnaissance units, special operations forces, sniper teams, and UAV operators.

A comprehensive approach to thermal and multispectral camouflage by STG Defence

Another area of focus is the Thermal Signature Equipment Shelter, which applies the same principles of infrared signature management but is designed to conceal a range of platforms, including all-terrain vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, tanks, forward command posts, aircraft, and more. Lightweight and modular design allows for rapid camouflaging of objects of any size.

The overall concept of STG Defence is to create a unified ecosystem of camouflage solutions in which individual equipment, gear, and technical cover function as interconnected elements. This enables the formation of a multi-level system to reduce a unit’s visibility on the battlefield – from an individual soldier to a fully camouflaged position or a technical facility.

Ukraine’s response to a global challenge

The development of solutions such as the anti-thermal imaging poncho reflects a broader trend: Ukraine’s defence sector is rapidly shifting from adapting existing technologies to creating its own engineering solutions, shaped by direct combat experience.

Against the backdrop of rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, where potential security scenarios involve the widespread use of reconnaissance UAVs, thermal imaging systems, and precision-guided weapons, the survival of military units increasingly depends on their ability to remain undetected in the multispectral environment of the modern battlefield.

In this context, STG Defence’s solution exemplifies how local technological innovations can address the global challenges of the modern battlefield – quickly, pragmatically, and with a focus on the real needs of the military. Anti-thermal imaging solutions are becoming part of a new logic of defence – a logic in which the main advantage is not strength but invisibility at the critical moment.