Chinese team unveils smart, super-tough coating for stealth aircraft

China has developed a flexible, durable aircraft coating that absorbs radar waves, potentially closing a critical technological gap and redefining the future of aerial stealth.

A study published on October 14 in Advanced Materials details a scalable, flexible and ultra-thin (0.1 mm) metasurface capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit).

The material features tunable impedance, making it suitable for aerospace electromagnetic wave absorption.

It shows balance between performance, durability and manufacturability, and could have potential applications in fighter aircraft, according to the paper.

The research was led by Cui Guang and Liu Zhongfan from Peking University, along with Wang Huihui from Peking University of Technology and Li Maoyuan from Harbin Engineering University.