Multispectral Aerosol Obscurants: A review

Aerosol obscurants are promising materials for multispectral countermeasures due to their efficacy as smoke-producing agents in pyrotechnic compositions for defence applications, particularly in attenuating Ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), infrared (IR), and millimetric wave (MMW) radiation. This review comprehensively investigates recent advancements in material-based obscurants, covering their background, significance, classification, and generation mechanisms, with a particular focus on red phosphorus (RP)-based pyrotechnic compositions. The paper also addresses material-based obscurant formulations, methods for performance evaluation, and environmental impacts. A Critical investigation of experimental data, bolstered by graphical and tabular representations, elucidates significant trends from laboratory and field studies. The review ultimately delineates research limitations and suggests future pathways to enhance the advancement and implementation of pyrotechnic obscurants.