The JSC Research Institute of Steel has announced on the Kalashnikov website that the company started the serial production of Nakidka, which is applied to the tanks. The company said, "The material reduces the visibility of tanks and other military equipment at various wavelengths, starting to arrive at customers' addresses for use in combat conditions."
Nakidka is a Russian radar-absorbent material (RAM) applied on the armour to eliminate the use of precision-guided weapons. The RAM reduces the multi-spectral signatures of an object. The technology was unveiled in 2006 at the Russian Expo Arms and International Defence Exhibition of Land Forces. It was at that time applied to a T-72BM "Rogatka". It is known that this technology was tested in the field in Ukraine because two T-90M "Proryv" tanks equipped with Nakidka were captured in September and February in Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts, respectively. It was said that the tank found in Kharkiv Oblast was abandoned, but the one in Donetsk was hit by an FGM-148 Javelin, which uses optical sight and thermal imaging.
The fighting in Ukraine has shown that armoured vehicles are disabled not only by anti-tank missiles but also due to long-range artillery fire or rocket attacks. In this case, the shelling occurs after the enemy detects equipment using satellites or aviation reconnaissance equipment.
The Nakidka protects the tank from detection by radar and thermal imaging reconnaissance devices. It's shape-shifting colouring also provides optical camouflage.
Nakidka weighs two kilograms per square metre. Once applied, it is long maintenance-free service life.
