Stealth relies on five core principles when it comes to military vessels: materials, coatings, geometry, noise and tactics. While the latter is situation dependent, the first four are physical qualities that can be modified to enhance stealth with advanced technologies.
Materials are based on composites such as fibreglass rather than hard metals and the incorporation of negative-index metamaterials (NIMs). These latter artificial substances are designed to be all-but invisible to specific radar frequencies. Some vessels are also being built with demagnetisation belts – a process that involves encircling a ship with superconducting ceramic cables.
Covering a vessel with radar-absorbent coatings such as iron ball paint – tiny spheres of carbonyl iron or ferrite – can also reduce a radar cross-section. Coatings are referred to as RAMs (radar-absorbent materials) and work…
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History of War Book of Combat Machines (Digital) - 1 Issue, History of War Book of Combat Machines 2016