A breakthrough in stealth technology allows drones to evade radar by up to 90%.

Aircraft are detected when they reflect waves from radar systems. However, stealth cloaks are designed to deceive these systems using metamaterials, which bend the waves around the aircraft.

Recently, scientists at Zhejiang University (China) announced a groundbreaking stealth technology that could turn aircraft and drones into objects invisible to radar systems.

This technology, dubbed "invisibility cloak," could usher in a new era in modern warfare.

Aircraft and drones are often detected by radar waves, as they reflect signals from enemy radar systems.

However, Zhejiang University's invisibility cloak technology is designed to deceive radar systems by using special materials.

These materials have the ability to bend electromagnetic waves, allowing them to pass through the aircraft or drone without being reflected back.

AI sensors automatically change surface texture to evade radar.

For decades, militaries around the world have been researching methods to make fighter jets harder to detect with radar.

Stealth aircraft like the American F-35 and F-22 are equipped with skins made from special materials that absorb radar waves instead of reflecting them.

Stealth technology on aircraft still has inherent drawbacks. Photo: PopMech

However, current stealth technology still has drawbacks, particularly with radars operating at complex frequencies. Countries like Russia and China have developed radar methods capable of detecting stealth aircraft, making stealth less effective.

This spurred new research, aiming to create true invisibility for military vehicles. The special 3D material used by Chinese scientists is capable of effectively navigating electromagnetic waves, ensuring operation in all environmental conditions, from land and sea to air.

One notable aspect of the Zhejiang University research is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into invisibility cloak technology.

Drones can use sensors to measure the frequency and angular velocity of radar waves. AI then processes this information and instructs the drone to manipulate nanostructures on the material's surface to modulate the waves, making the aircraft or drone invisible in real time, without human intervention.

Tests in simulated environments have shown that the electric field strength of drones wearing invisibility cloaks can reach approximately 90% of the surrounding environment, significantly better than drones without this technology (which only reach about 45%).

The potential to change modern warfare.

Although current stealth technology is primarily designed for drones, defense experts believe it will be a crucial step in the development of next-generation fighter aircraft.

The ability of drones, or even swarms of them, to become invisible would provide a significant advantage in potential conflicts.

The ability to evade radar with new technology could unlock significant changes on the battlefield. Photo: NDM

China isn't the only country developing stealth technology, but with recent breakthroughs in new materials research and the potential application of AI, they are revolutionizing the field.

If successful, invisibility cloak technology would completely change the landscape of modern warfare, especially in conflicts involving drones and stealth aircraft.

The U.S. military has been at the forefront of stealth aircraft development. The Department of Defense began researching this technology in the 1970s, but it wasn't until a Pentagon press conference in 1980 that the technology was publicly disclosed.

Subsequently, the first American stealth aircraft entered combat in 1989.

Since then, America's adversaries (and even some allies) have begun developing countermeasures to detect and destroy stealth aircraft.

Current countermeasures include radars with more complex frequency ranges, capable of capturing a wider spectrum. Currently, Russia uses radar systems operating in low-frequency bands, including the Nebo-M radar.

This system emits long-wave signals, making it difficult for stealth aircraft to evade radar. For example, US stealth aircraft can be detected by the Nebo-M radar because they are designed to avoid short-frequency radar waves.

However, the challenges remain significant. Scientists are still working to overcome the problems associated with controlling radar waves across a wide frequency range.

Nevertheless, with rapid advancements in technology, it is possible that within the next few years, invisibility cloaks will become an important part of the arsenals of major military powers.

The civilian drone war between the US and China: The US government is considering imposing restrictions on drones manufactured in China, or even a complete ban on these devices in the US, citing national security concerns.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ao-choang-tang-hinh-giup-drone-ne-tranh-radar-len-den-90-2366573.html