Night Vision Device comparison photos of US4CES and some of the U.S. Army Phase IV camouflage patterns

Night Vision Device comparison photos of US4CES and some of the U.S. Army Phase IV camouflage patterns
By Guy Cramer

Note: The US4CES family of camouflage (ADS Inc. of Virginia Beach and Guy Cramer) was selected as a finalist in the U.S. Army Phase IV Camouflage Improvement Program

After releasing these Gen-1 Night Vision Device (NVD) comparison images (8 images - two groups of four photos, immediately below) of the U.S. Army Phase IV camouflage improvement effort patterns and baseline patterns. A number of people complained that the Gen-1 NVD photos did not accurately show how these different camouflage patterns worked under the improved Gen-III Night Vision currently used by many countries including the U.S.

We were able to acquire a Gen-III device to compare the patterns in 22 photos below the Gen-1 photos in a variety of backgrounds to provide numerous environmental comparisons between the patterns in the Near Infrared Spectrum - critical for Night Operations.

It should be noted that Gen-I devices are very easy to come by and are being used by some countries whereas Gen-III are usually export restricted and much more expensive.

Gen-1 Images below over leafy bush

Gen-1 Images below over concrete

All images below are from a Gen-III Night Vision Device which can operate at the 900nm level.

US4CES Transitional Gen-III NVD comparison photos

Kryptek is a Phase IV finalist and the Highlander pattern is their submission for transitional environments.

Multicam (OCP) [Post 2010 printing] was the baseline pattern for testing in Transitional Environments.

US4CES Woodland Gen-III NVD comparison photos

Kryptek is a Phase IV finalist and the Mandrake pattern is their submission for Woodland/Jungle environments.

U.S. Navy AOR2 was the baseline pattern for testing in Woodland/Jungle Environments.

Can you see the US4CES Woodland in this image below?

US4CES was shown in the lab testing to have color separation down to 2,300 nanometers (nm) which is the far end of Night Vision Goggles (NVG’s) whereas Multicam OCP has no separation after 960 nm meaning that it appears as one solid color in the high end SWIR Spectrum (NVG’s used by Tier-1 Teams).

Reflected Infrared
Near-infrared (NIR) are wavelengths that range from 0.7 to 1.3 microns 700 nanometers (nm) - 1300 nm.
Shortwave infrared (SWIR) are wavelengths from 1.3 to 3 microns (1300 nm - 3000 nm)

The SWIR range used in the Tier-1 NVG's is about 900 nm-1800 nm

Part 1: U.S. Army Camouflage Improvement Explained

Part 2: U.S. Army Scorpion Camouflage

Part 3: Why not just use MARPAT?

Part 4: Why US4CES?

Part 5: Phase IV C3: Camouflage, Color and Cost

Part 6: U.S. Army Phase IV Baseline Patterns, will the Army have to settle with these?

For more Camouflage news go to the HyperStealth® Home Page