Speaker
Description
Abstract — This study examines the progressive transformation of individual ballistic and tactical protective systems, tracing the transition from conventional camouflage textiles to advanced architectures based on metamaterials. In the modern multispectral battlespace, where high-resolution visual and thermal detection enables rapid target detection and engagement, traditional camouflage approaches have reached their operational limits. The analysis examines the integration of periodic split-ring resonator (SRR) structures that enable the creation of negative refractive index media. Such electromagnetic behavior provides the basis for transformation optics, in which incident waves are directed around the object, effectively reducing its detectability and increasing the capabilities of the optical cloaking mechanism. The relationship between electromagnetic functionality and mechanical performance is reviewed, and composite systems incorporating nanocomposite matrices for efficient kinetic energy dissipation, along with embedded meta-atoms for broadband multispectral shielding, are evaluated. Emerging material systems are reviewed, such as microencapsulated therapeutic agents and shape memory polymers. These are being investigated for their ability to restore both structural integrity and electromagnetic homogeneity after ballistic or mechanical damage. The study further explores passive deception strategies based on lenticular refraction, allowing for signature modeling without external energy loading. By defining invisibility and signature control as quantifiable engineering parameters, these material systems establish the foundation for the next generation of adaptive, resilient combat equipment.
Keywords – metamaterials; negative refractive index; split-ring resonators; transformation optics; ballistic protection; multispectral cloaking; lenticular metasurfaces; self-healing polymers; evolution of tactical equipment.