In the Russian-Ukrainian war, night-vision devices (NVDs) have become one of the most popular technologies, especially among infantry and sabotage groups. Many soldiers are detected precisely because of their high visibility in the infrared spectrum.
Staying unnoticed is one of the main tasks at the front — both for effectively carrying out combat tasks and for preserving one's own life. Doing this in today's realities is not easy, but it is possible. One such solution is NIR treatment.
How NIR treatment works
NIR treatment (Near InfraRed) is a special treatment of fabrics that reduces their visibility to night-vision devices (NVDs). Thanks to this technology, military clothing and gear become less noticeable in the infrared spectrum, which increases the effectiveness of camouflage and reduces the risk of being detected by the enemy at night.
A night-vision device captures and accumulates light, amplifies it with a special converter and reproduces a monochrome image. Simply put, it makes you "visible" even in the dark. Ordinary fabrics mostly reflect radiation, making a soldier noticeable in an NVD. NIR treatment changes the material's reflective properties: the products absorb part of the light rather than reflecting it, so the amount of particles an NVD can "detect" is significantly smaller.
All our Cordura products have NIR treatment: body armor, plate carriers, modules of the armor suit, armor blanket and so on. Using clothing and gear with NIR treatment is an important element of modern military camouflage, which contributes to increasing safety and the effectiveness of carrying out combat tasks.
Does gear with NIR require special care?
Such gear doesn't require any special care. Still, we have a few recommendations:
- Avoid aggressive detergents. Don't use bleaches, harsh powders or phosphate-based products. They can alter the fabric's reflective properties.
- Wash at low temperatures. High temperatures can destroy the NIR treatment. Cold or warm water (up to 30°C) is optimal.
- Avoid machine drying. High temperatures during drying can damage the NIR treatment, so it's better to let the product dry on its own at room temperature or in the shade.
In general, when cleaning your gear, don't apply excessive force: wipe dirt off the surface with careful circular motions. Following these rules will help extend the service life of your equipment and preserve its effectiveness in combat conditions.
