In modern nocturnal warfare, distinguishing friend from foe without alerting the enemy is a matter of life and death. The Indian Army Infra-Red (IR) Patch is a highly specialized p...

In modern nocturnal warfare, distinguishing friend from foe without alerting the enemy is a matter of life and death. The Indian Army Infra-Red (IR) Patch is a highly specialized piece of covert identification technology. To the naked eye under normal lighting, the patch appears as a subdued, matte black or olive drab square. However, when illuminated by an infrared laser and viewed through Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), the patch brightly reflects the IR light, instantly identifying the wearer to friendly forces. This prevents friendly-fire incidents during complex, low-light tactical raids and night-time jungle operations.