As radar detection capabilities become increasingly sophisticated, so has the need to review how radar information is received as well as how certain objects can be hidden from it entirely.
This is the subject of an upcoming workshop at the 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and ITNC-USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (IEEE A- PS/URSI 2024) in Florence, Italy. The Stealth Innovation Program at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) will be presented by TII’s electromagnetic and advanced materials leads, Dr. Felix Vega and Dr. Vincenzo Giannini, who will explore their latest discoveries for absorbing radar waves and reducing long-range detectability, as well as how these solutions can be applied to bring real-world benefits.
The evolution of radar – and stealth
While the basic ideas behind making things invisible to radar are well-known, the Stealth Innovation Program seeks to deliver a complete solution that can benefit industries around the world. And to do that, it is necessary to understand what the implications of current radar capabilities are.
Radar uses pulses of radio waves that reflect off objects to detect distance, location - even speed when bounced off moving and static objects. In recent years, advances in radar technologies lead to enhance detection of land, air and sea platforms. This provides clear, high-resolution images that were never previously possible. And for many industries, this capability is game changing.
In archaeology, for example, determining the qualities of buried artefacts using the latest radar technology reveals the data needed to excavate things safely and preserve their qualities for future studies. In medicine, improved images of a patient’s health can better inform their treatment plans for a better outcome.
Modern radar technology offers significant advantages, especially in air and sea operations. As this technology rapidly evolves, there is a growing need for solutions that preemptively protect important assets from detection.
Innovating invisibility
Traditionally, anti-radar technologies have focused on deflecting radio waves. Yet the Stealth Innovation Program research, the focus of the upcoming TII conference, looks at ways to absorb these waves instead. Absorption prevents incoming waves to be reflected back to the radar.
This is where the Stealth Innovation Program’s cutting-edge technologies come in. Its innovative range of metamaterials, nanoparticles and radar-absorbing paints can camouflage diverse type of platforms from radar detection. These technologies are thin, flexible and lightweight, designed to significantly reduce radar cross-section and long- range detectability. What makes TII’s program unique is that our approach offers an end-to-end solution, based on a deep understanding of the practical requirements, manufacturing techniques and fundamental technologies. Our technology program takes care of the full process from design to performance validation, using computational electromagnetic, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing, all this while keeping constant communication and collaboration with the end customer. Thanks to thorough laboratory testing and state of the art computer simulations, these novel technologies meet the highest standards of the industry. Plus, their design means they can be easily applied to either existing or custom-made, vehicles making them easily accessible for real word applications.
While there have been several challenges to overcome in this endeavour, collaboration with fellow research organizations (not to mention those who will benefit from these technologies) has accelerated progress significantly. Understanding today’s stealth challenges and strategically bringing together the right expertise has produced viable solutions for anti-radar innovation, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of stealth technology.
The Stealth Innovation Program's success in creating solutions that are both effective and accessible will have a lasting impact on the way we protect and optimize assets. And as this field of study continues to break new ground, its contributions will undoubtedly become an integral part of our approach to modern warfare and communication.
The Stealth Innovation Program findings will be shared on July 17, 2024, at the 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and ITNC-USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting. Catch up on the latest from the conference here: https://2024.apsursi.org/