China claims new jet coating can survive 1,800°F and block radar

Chinese researchers from Peking University and Harbin Engineering University have developed an ultra-thin, heat-resistant coating designed to enhance stealth capabilities of fighter jets by absorbing radar waves. This metasurface coating, only 0.1 millimeters thick, can withstand extreme temperatures up to 1,832°F (1,000°C) and maintain its radar-absorbing properties under high-speed airflow conditions typical of supersonic flight. Created by depositing graphene onto a silica fabric substrate and then patterning it with lasers, the resulting graphene-silica fiber membrane is lightweight, flexible, and durable, capable of reducing radar reflection by up to -42 decibels without adding significant weight or altering aircraft structure. The technology represents a significant advancement in stealth materials, potentially applicable not only to military aircraft like China’s J-20 stealth fighter but also to satellites, drones, and hypersonic vehicles exposed to harsh thermal and electromagnetic environments. This innovation contrasts with current U.S. stealth coatings, which are fragile,