Aerosol smoke screens create dense clouds of particles that block, scatter, or weaken visible and infrared signals. This can make it harder for optical and thermal cameras to identify targets and can also interfere with laser-based systems.

China’s Smoke Wall Takes Aim at Drones

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted a live-fire exercise featuring a mobile, multiple-rocket aerosol smoke generation system designed to rapidly create wide-area, multispectral smoke screens against threats such as drones, thermal imaging, and precision-guided weapons.

Smoke protection is temporary, as clouds eventually thin or shift with the wind. Newer UAVs may also use other sensors and image-processing technology to reduce the effectiveness of concealment. As a result, smoke screens can temporarily disrupt drone detection and tracking, but their effectiveness depends on the system, sensors, and environmental conditions.

U.S. Army Develops Next-Generation Smoke Screen

The U.S. Army is also developing a next-generation battlefield smoke system to protect troops from surveillance and targeting, particularly during river crossings and obstacle breaching. Lessons from the war in Ukraine have increased the urgency as drones and other sensors make troop movements harder to conceal.

The M75 Screening Obscuration Module (SOM) is designed to replace the M56 Coyote. Lighter than the Coyote, the M75 — roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase — can be operated by a single soldier and can be mounted atop a Humvee or in open terrain and rapidly produce smoke designed to interfere with different sensors across the electromagnetic spectrum. Army testing has also shown improved performance with newer obscurant materials.

“Without an array of obscuration tools, the Army will suffer the same high casualty rates and potential mission failure that Ukraine and Russia suffered.” — Lt. Col. Michael Carvelli, U.S. Army

In February 2026, soldiers from the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted concealment training with tactical resupply vehicles at Fort Stewart, Georgia, demonstrating the SOM in a field-training environment.

Behind-the-Scenes SOM Concealment Training at Fort Stewart, Georgia – August 26th, 2026

As drones make the battlefield more transparent, smoke is becoming a critical tool for survival. New systems are giving troops a way to temporarily disappear from enemy sensors and move under greater protection.