With active camouflage in the infrared range and some work already done on the visual range my ten minute Wikipedia degree tells me the next generation of tank targeting will use detection of EM flux produced by the engines.
The idea is simply a faraday cage placed over all motors of a tank to reduce detection radius.-- Voice, Oct 09 2014 //the next generation of tank targeting will use detection of EM flux produced by the engines//
What leads you to that conclusion? Can you share a link? Why would you think that could be detected from afar in a useful way?-- Custardguts, Oct 10 2014 Does a turboshaft engine even produce EM? The ignitors are only used during start-up, no? (Or is that only for aero engines?)
And the same for diesel engines, too. Are we talking about the generators, perhaps?
I know some gasoline-powered aero engines use shielded ignitions. Or maybe most (I was listening to AM radio when a Piper Cub buzzed my house, once, and I heard it, but that was the only time).-- baconbrain, Oct 10 2014 Is there going to be a km of smiting per kw/h guidance for battery powered future tanks-- not_morrison_rm, Oct 10 2014 Ferrets and Saracens both have shielded ignitions. That's as far as my experience gos though, and they both have similar engines (Rolls-Royce B60 and B80 respectively).-- TomP, Oct 10 2014 Oh, that kind of ferret. Umm, is it just me or is tank just one big metal box anyway, so putting some bits of mesh over the intakes/exhausts..-- not_morrison_rm, Oct 10 2014 Yup.
Most modern AFVs are already heavily screened, not for emissions but against EMP. What works for incoming, works for outgoing.
// EM flux produced by the engines. //
... is going to be low frequency. And very much in the near field.
If you want to detect low frequency EM you need proportionately large antenna.
The Mk. I eyeball is pretty good at detecting tanks.-- 8th of 7, Oct 10 2014 //you need proportionately large antenna.
Ahhh, Mothra.
Having wasted an irreplaceable 2 minutes of my life reading wikipedia on the subject, Mothra would be an ideal tank-killer "It has been shown to have the ability to spray silk, metamorphose, fly, generate hurricane-force wind, scatter poison, drop wings and use various magical energy attacks".
Current counter-counter measures against the decoy tank with a huge lightbulb it can batter itself on are under development.-- not_morrison_rm, Oct 10 2014 //Mothra would be an ideal tank-killer "It has been shown to have the ability to spray silk, metamorphose, fly, generate hurricane-force wind, scatter poison, drop wings and use various magical energy attacks".//
All well and good until it meets Mothrafucker.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 10 2014 We really need to eliminate that nasty hollow bit in the middle. Most anti armor devices focus on penetrating the armor. What if you got through the armor, and just found more armor?-- bs0u0155, Oct 10 2014 No, no, what if you got through the armour and found soft furnishings, piped music and a sinister disembodied voice saying "We've been expecting you"?-- pertinax, Oct 12 2014 Why a sinister voice ? just a recliner, bigscreen TV, the game's on, libations in the mini-fridge, maybe a hot tub ...-- FlyingToaster, Oct 12 2014 … with hot and cold running piranhas …-- 8th of 7, Oct 12 2014 / detection of EM flux produced by the engines. /
Any jeep, groundpounder, bike, rocket or mailbox could carry a EM simulator.
Or each tank could pull or push 10 simulators. Four tanks are then forty on your screens.
Run away!-- popbottle, Oct 12 2014 The next generation will be unmanned and therefore small fast robots that once begin inflicting casualties will be more terrifying than the Ni rabbit in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail.-- pashute, Oct 12 2014 //more terrifying than the Ni rabbit
Nothing could be more terrifying-- not_morrison_rm, Oct 13 2014 And the rabbit is nothing to do with the Knights of Ni.
Besides, the rabbit is vulnerable to the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch ('tis one of the sacred relics that Brother Maynard carries with him).-- 8th of 7, Oct 13 2014 But only when one readeth the operating book, and counteth to three, first (without passing one or two). By which time the tank will have ferociously run you over in cold blood.-- Ling, Oct 13 2014 I'm still thinking a very large pair of dark glasses on each tank-- not_morrison_rm, Oct 13 2014 Maybe some Groucho glasses?-- RayfordSteele, Oct 13 2014 random, halfbakery