In recent years, invisibility hunting and trapping has focused on a specific area of science known as metamaterials. Contrary to what happens with materials, whose properties arise from their composition, metamaterials owe their qualities to their design, their architecture. And it is precisely a metamaterial that China would have developed to make its fighters invisible.
According to Chinese media, the material, created by the National University of Defense Technology, is designed to absorb electromagnetic waves and convert them into heat, a process that can significantly reduce aircraft radar visibility.
The new metamaterial is capable of absorb electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from 70 to 18 centimeters, which covers the key frequencies of most anti-stealth radars, specifically the P-band and L-band.
Anti-stealth radars typically emit long-wavelength electromagnetic signals, which are difficult for current stealth aircraft coatings to absorb effectively due to their thinness.
Those responsible for the advance assure that laboratory tests have demonstrated the material’s ability to effectively absorb low-frequency electromagnetic waves from various angles, with no thicker than two sheets of paperan achievement considered impossible until now.
The report notes that the new material could mean a breakthrough in overcoming this limitation, potentially offering stealth aircraft improved protection against radar detection.
The metamaterial is also described as light, flexible and easy to mass producemaking it an attractive option to cover a wide range of military platforms. Chinese scientists believe this cost-effective material could evolve the production of stealth technologies for aircraft and other defense equipment.
Basically, those responsible for the advance They used an unidentified metal to create a circuit within the material. When struck by low-frequency electromagnetic waves, the circuit creates currents that are converted to heat and dissipated into the surrounding air.
This technique is reported to enables technology to provide ultra-wideband stealth effects without relying on heavy magnetic components and expensive.
While these claims are innovative, independent verification is still required to evaluate the effectiveness of the material in the real world. However, the announcement reflects China’s continued effort to hone its stealth capabilities and maintain a competitive advantage in military aviation.