The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday denied it was using the wrong kind of paint on army vehicles after reports that the paint did not incorporate infrared shielding as per regulations and was instead ordinary paint.
The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported that a person surnamed Lee (李) said the army was cutting corners by using ordinary paint purchased at superstores rather than more advanced coating that deflects night vision instruments.
Lee took picture of Humvees, tanks and medium-sized tactical vehicles during daytime and nighttime. All three armored vehicles were painted with camouflage and provided effective woodland camouflage in the daytime, the paper said.
However, at night, the tactical vehicles appeared camouflaged when viewed through infrared night-vision goggles, while the tanks and Humvees exhibited clear edges and a darker color.
Lee said as per Army vehicle regulations, all new vehicles should be coated with anti-infrared paint, such as that ostensibly used on the tactical vehicle, adding that all vehicles should be repainted after a certain period of time.
Rather than use anti-infrared paint manufactured at the Armaments Bureau’s 203 Factory, the military purchased normal paint at superstores, leaving main tanks and Humvees vulnerable to detection with infrared night vision, Lee said.
Responding to the claims, military authorities said army tanks, armored vehicles, Humvees and artillery all came off the production line with anti-infrared coating.
As for the claim that it was buying paint from superstores, the ministry said restocking anti-infrared coating always had to be approved by the Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.
The ministry said the photographs provided by Lee appeared to have been photoshopped, as the tent covering on tactical vehicles was not coated with anti-infrared coating, yet in Lee’s photo it looked as if it had been.
The ministry’s defense does not hold water, Lee said.
“I have photos showing the military did not coat vehicles as per regulation. They [the military] should not make up excuses to deceive the public,” Lee said.
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