Spain Develops Signal-Free Smart Camouflage to Outsmart AI-Guided Drones

Spanish defense technology firm Kallisto AI has unveiled a new passive camouflage system designed to fool AI-guided drones and sensors without emitting any electronic signal.

Known as the Kallisto Shield, the system uses modular panels and lifelike decoys to alter how military vehicles and assets appear across various detection spectrums — including visual, thermal, infrared, and radar. Unlike conventional electronic jammers or active countermeasures, the Shield operates without electricity or electronic components, making it completely silent and invisible to electromagnetic sensors.

Built to Mislead Modern Threats

The Shield’s main goal is to confuse enemy surveillance and targeting systems, especially those powered by artificial intelligence. The panels can be rearranged into millions of unique configurations, allowing them to either conceal the real identity of a military asset or mimic another type of target entirely. Alongside these panels, decoys simulate heat and radar signatures, creating false targets and misleading AI-powered threat systems.

This allows military forces to shield armored vehicles, static command centers, mobile radar units, and air defense platforms from detection — even when observed from drones or satellites. The system’s passive nature ensures that no electromagnetic signal is emitted, a crucial feature in modern warfare where electronic emissions often become instant targeting markers.

Inspired by the War in Ukraine

According to Kallisto AI, the design of the Shield has been heavily influenced by combat scenarios in Ukraine, where AI-enabled munitions have become increasingly common. The company studied frontline footage and drone strike patterns to identify how such systems recognize and lock onto their targets.

In early 2025, Kallisto created a digital twin of the camouflage technology, testing it against synthetic threats modeled on Ukrainian terrain. The results led to the production of two physical prototypes, which are now being prepared for live testing in Ukraine to assess their effectiveness against real-world AI-guided systems.

Scalable, Cost-Efficient, and Fast

The cost of implementing the Shield reportedly ranges between 0.1% and 10% of the vehicle’s total value, depending on the complexity of the platform and level of protection required. The system is also designed for rapid deployment and wide scalability, making it suitable for everything from single units to large operational formations.

Additionally, the company claims the Shield dramatically reduces the "sensor-to-shooter" timeline, cutting it down from 20 minutes to just 20 seconds, thereby reducing the enemy’s reaction time and increasing survivability for friendly forces.

Global Demand on the Rise

Kallisto AI is officially registered with the Spanish Ministry of Defence and holds a valid defense export license. The firm has already drawn attention from a wide range of international markets, including the United States, European Union nations, Ukraine, India, China, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

With drones and AI playing a central role in the future of warfare, the Kallisto Shield is seen as a breakthrough in passive defense—one that allows modern forces to hide in plain sight without making a sound.