U.S. Army Tests New Radar-Blocking Smoke System

The service is developing a module that uses coated fibers to hide soldiers and vehicles from radar detection.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Military

U.S. Army Tests New Radar-Blocking Smoke System

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Should the U.S. invest more in advanced military technology to improve soldier battlefield survivability?

In August 2026, the U.S. Army conducted live field trials of a new Millimeter Wave Screening Obscuration Module designed to mask targets from radar. The system uses a cloud of coated fibers to scatter incoming radar energy, addressing a weakness in conventional smoke generators against modern missile seekers.

Why it matters

The development seeks to improve soldier survivability by countering advanced radar detection on the battlefield. Conventional smoke technology currently fails to block the millimeter-wave radar frequencies frequently used by modern guided missile systems.

The module utilizes approximately 30 pounds of coated fibers to create an obscuring cloud. Future requirements for the next-generation system include a 204-meter formation length and a 12-minute cloud duration.

The players

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center

This organization leads the development and testing of chemical and biological defense systems for military use.

Portfolio Management Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense

This office manages the acquisition and testing programs for specialized defense equipment used by military forces.

The details

Engineers from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center conducted trials by setting up targets and measuring signature degradation during fiber release. The system is designed to provide comprehensive screening across ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radar sensors.

Army testing of the M75 module at Dugway Proving Ground began in 2018.
In November 2025, the M75 was mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle for further evaluation.
Army Contracting Command issued a request for multispectral module concepts in January 2026.
Live field trials for the new radar-blocking module took place in August 2026.

Political Context

The project follows a strategic pattern set by the Army's multispectral screening requirements, which mandate systems capable of masking signatures across the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radar spectrums simultaneously.

The development represents a shift toward more complex, multi-spectrum defensive gear that could change standard equipment configurations for ground vehicles. Taxpayers may see continued funding toward these specialized protection modules as the military works to counter modern missile capabilities.

The takeaway

This technology highlights a critical push to neutralize radar-guided threats that traditional smoke tactics cannot address. Future battlefield success increasingly depends on these advanced material science applications to maintain tactical invisibility.