China unveils paint designed to make drones harder to detect by radar
China develops paint designed to make drones harder to detect by radar (photo: Getty Images)
Chinese company Star-Navi has launched a new line of specialized XRAM-C Series spray coatings designed to absorb radar signals, Defence Blog reports.
The material works by absorbing radio waves and converting them into heat energy rather than reflecting them to the radar. As a result, the strength of the reflected signal is significantly reduced, decreasing the drone's radar cross-section and making it more difficult for radar systems to detect.
The company offers three versions of the coating adapted to different frequency ranges. The C105 version protects X-band and Ku-band radars, the C112 is designed to counter S-band and C-band systems, while the universal C113B covers both groups of frequencies.
The application method does not require specialized manufacturing infrastructure and can be used on prepared surfaces. Notably, Star-Navi offers the coating in 1 kg, 5 kg, and 10 kg containers, highlighting the product's accessibility.
Depending on the selected version, a 0.40–0.60 mm layer of the material can reduce reflected signal levels by 3–3.5 dB, corresponding to roughly a twofold reduction in signal power.
The coating weighs no more than 1.1 kg per square meter. The material retains its properties at temperatures of up to 250°C (482°F) for 100 hours, is resistant to prolonged vibration, and has successfully passed 2,000-hour salt spray tests, confirming its suitability for use on maritime and coastal facilities.
It is known that Ukrainian long-range drones have been striking Russia's oil facilities and weapons factories, and doing so much more accurately than Russian Shahed drones.
