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Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have developed a technology that helps warfighters distinguish friendly forces from adversaries during combat exercises. The AFRL, teamed with Lumitex of Strongsville, OH, to create and field the Target Recognition Operator Notification system (TRON) that uses fiber-optic panels and a light source to provide a light-emitting surface that permits more accurate identification of friend versus foe in the field.

TRON consists of Lumitex's flexible fiber-optic woven cloth, cut to military specifications. Individual sheets of the cloth are laminated into layers that are formed into lighting devices of various shapes and sizes. The woven nature of the cloth causes light to be emitted in a controlled way, creating a uniform light-emitting surface.

TRON has a long battery life and weighs less than three ounces. Personnel can wear the system under clothing, on outer tactical vests, on an arm, or mounted on a helmet. TRON III, a larger system for identifying friendly force positions during close air support operations, uses the same cloth, but is six times brighter.

TRON III's bright coloring improves daytime recognition. In addition, the system hooks into a vehicle's power supply, eliminating the need for an external power source. This prototype's development occurred as a joint effort between AFRL scientists, who decided on the specifications, and Lumitex scientists, who built the system. The team fielded TRON III for testing just three months after the need for the system was established.

TRON I and III systems are currently aiding warfighters in deployed locations. Both systems were part of a joint air operation exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Under real-world conditions, TRON I has facilitated successful marking and cordoning of an unused improvised explosive device, which a bomb disposal team was quickly able to identify and destroy. Likewise, it has also supported more than 40 close air support missions. TRON III, meanwhile, has played a role in at least two successful close air support missions.