NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if this is the right forum, but I'm going to try to ask anyway.

I've heard of a type of smoke (Thermal Smoke, I beleive it's called) that uses hot air particles to blind thermographic sources of vision. Would this be a real concept, or simply science fiction?

I don't know if this is the right forum, but I'm going to try to ask anyway.

I've heard of a type of smoke (Thermal Smoke, I beleive it's called) that uses hot air particles to blind thermographic sources of vision. Would this be a real concept, or simply science fiction?
Hmmm. I've heard of thermite grenades, but not of anything like this. Sorry.

The theory is that you feed a supply of super heated particles/elements in the smoke that cool slowly (compared to normal smoke ash) that 'blocks' the view of everything under or behind it. Meaning, you would cover your forces during a battle at night (for example) and then break out. The enemy would be temporarily blind (like normal smoke to eyesight during daytime) to your movements and maneuvers...


(obviously this is for protection against NODs and infra-red detectors)

I don't know if this is the right forum, but I'm going to try to ask anyway.

I've heard of a type of smoke (Thermal Smoke, I beleive it's called) that uses hot air particles to blind thermographic sources of vision. Would this be a real concept, or simply science fiction?

Not SF. Various APSs like the SHTORA-1 Active Defense System on the T-90 use it.
A typical deployment of IR jammer can be seen on the Russian T-90, which mounts the Shtora-1 Defensive Aids System (DAS) shown on picture, with Kontakt5 ERA modules.

Countermeasures can employ a 81mm thermal instant smoke grenades, which deploy an instant smoke screen at a range of 50-80 meters from the tank, within 1.5 - 3 seconds. The 20 meter wide, 15 meter high screen blocks visual, thermal and laser (0.4 - 14 micron) wave bands.
http://www.defense-update.com/products/s/shtora-1.htm

However, it doesn't seem to be as effective as might be expected. It doesn't seem to have worked all that well in Chechnya.

Thanks for all the responses. I feel like it might be something I can deploy without too much of a 'Godmode' stamp.

Anyone else with more information, of course, is welcome to post for the edification of all. :D