China’s New Stealth Coating Survives 1,000°C, Redefines Jet Tech
- MM24 News Desk
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Peking University researchers have developed a flexible aircraft coating just 0.1mm thick that absorbs radar waves and withstands temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, potentially revolutionizing stealth aircraft technology. Led by Cui Guang and Liu Zhongfan, the breakthrough material reduces radar reflection to -42 decibels without adding significant weight.
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. The breakthrough addresses longstanding challenges in maintaining stealth capabilities under extreme operational conditions that have plagued existing aircraft.
A study published on October 14 in Advanced Materials details a scalable, flexible and ultra-thin (0.1mm) metasurface capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit), reported SCMP. The material features tunable impedance, making it suitable for aerospace electromagnetic wave absorption.
The research demonstrates remarkable balance between performance, durability and manufacturability, with potential applications in fighter aircraft, according to the paper. The work 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.
Liu's team had previously discovered that chemical vapour deposition (CVD) could be used for large-scale graphene production. Building on this foundation, the team deposited graphene directly onto a silica fabric substrate, forming a graphene@silica fibre membrane (G@SFM). The resulting material resembles soft cloth but combines lightweight properties, flexibility and resistance to extreme heat.
However, the material's uniform surface was initially ineffective at dissipating electromagnetic waves. To address this limitation, the team applied a subtractive laser patterning technique, creating a metasurface with tunable surface impedance that enabled effective electromagnetic wave absorption.
The final material exhibits an ultra-thin profile (~0.1mm), low surface density, excellent flexibility and tunable sheet resistance ranging from 50 to 5,000 ohms per square. These specifications represent significant advances over existing stealth coating technologies.
Durability testing revealed impressive stability. The material maintains consistent wave-absorbing performance after exposure to 600 degrees Celsius in air for five minutes and long-term heating at 1,000 degrees in a vacuum. Under high-speed airflow of 200 metres per second, the material experienced less than 1 percent loss, with the metasurface pattern and sheet resistance remaining intact, according to SCMP.
These properties make the material particularly suitable for the thermal conditions encountered by high-speed aircraft, where aerodynamic heating creates extreme surface temperatures. Fighter jets operating at supersonic speeds generate intense heat through air friction, requiring coating materials that maintain effectiveness under such conditions.
"Integrating this metasurface directly into an aircraft's thermal insulation layer can reduce radar reflection to -42 decibels without adding significant weight or altering the aircraft's structure," the researchers stated. This integration approach could simplify manufacturing while improving overall aircraft performance.
The team emphasized that the material "not only offers structural and thermal stability for aerospace use but also holds potential for broader applications, including satellite payload protection, stealth surfaces for defence platforms and electromagnetic shielding for high-temperature electronics in extreme industrial or space environments."
The laser patterning strategy can be extended to millimetre-wave and terahertz frequencies, supporting next-generation wireless communications, space-based sensing and adaptive stealth systems. This versatility suggests applications beyond military aviation.
This breakthrough stands in stark contrast to known challenges faced by United States stealth aircraft. During the 2025 Changchun Airshow, spectators observed maintenance personnel wiping the surface of a J-20 fighter with a dust-free cloth – suggesting the aircraft's radar-absorbing coating is both weather resistant and easy to maintain.
Meanwhile, maintenance of US stealth fighters remains a major concern. The F-22, the world's first fifth-generation fighter, uses an iron-based radar-absorbent coating that, while effective, is fragile and prone to peeling due to airflow erosion or rust. F-22s reportedly must be housed in specialized hangars with controlled temperature and humidity.
In July, photos of a rusty F-35C aboard the USS Carl Vinson went viral online. One possible cause is the iron content in the F-35's stealth coating, which is vulnerable to oxidation in the aircraft carrier's high-salinity, high-humidity environment. Once the coating is damaged, corrosive salt spray can penetrate, accelerating internal rust.
A US Department of Defence report noted that the F-35A incurred operating costs of $28,500 per flight hour, second only to the F-22A's $33,500. Maintenance requirements for stealth coatings contribute significantly to these expenses.
China's research in next-generation stealth materials continues advancing across multiple fronts. In June, a team led by Gui Xuchun at Sun Yat-sen University developed an MXene film just 2.25 micrometres thick that achieved electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 45 decibels in the gigahertz frequency band and 59 decibels in the terahertz band, while exhibiting extremely low infrared emissivity.
Whether this Peking University breakthrough can transition from laboratory demonstration to operational aircraft coatings remains uncertain. But the research demonstrates China's sustained progress in addressing stealth technology challenges that continue troubling Western military aviation programs.
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