China Just Unveiled A Jet Coating That Could Make Its Warplanes Vanish From Radar

J-20 stealth fighter jets perform in the sky during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

Chinese scientists claim they’ve developed a new heat-resistant stealth coating that could make their fighter jets nearly invisible to radar. The material, described in a study published in Advanced Materials, can reportedly withstand temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) and maintain its radar-absorbing ability even when flying at supersonic speeds.

According to the South China Morning Post, the team from Peking University and Harbin Engineering University has created an ultra-thin “metasurface” just 0.1 millimeter thick. Despite its delicate appearance, it can survive extreme heat and airflow conditions while soaking up radar signals instead of reflecting them. That means, in theory, aircraft coated with it could become almost invisible to radar systems.

The material was developed by researchers Cui Guang and Liu Zhongfan of Peking University, along with Wang Huihui and Li Maoyuan from Harbin Engineering University. Using a process called chemical vapor deposition, they layered graphene directly onto silica fibers to create a graphene-silica fiber membrane – a flexible and durable fabric capable of handling high temperatures without losing its electromagnetic properties.

Initially, the coating wasn’t very good at absorbing radar waves. But the researchers found that by using a laser to etch microscopic patterns into the surface, they could manipulate how radar waves interact with it. This “metasurface” structure allows the coating to absorb radar signals across multiple frequencies – essentially turning it into a stealth skin for aircraft.

The study claims that when integrated into a jet’s thermal insulation layer, the coating can reduce radar reflection to minus 42 decibels while adding virtually no extra weight. It also remained stable during tests involving intense airflow and rapid heating, losing less than one percent of its stealth effectiveness even at 200 meters per second.

Researchers say the coating could have a range of military uses, from stealth aircraft to drones and hypersonic missiles that face extreme temperatures in flight. Civilian applications might include electromagnetic shielding for electronics and stealth materials for satellites and spacecraft.

China has made rapid progress in radar-absorbing materials over the last few years. Observers at the Changchun Airshow noted that the surface of the country’s J-20 stealth fighter already appears more durable and easier to maintain than before.

If the new graphene-based coating works as advertised, it could give China’s next generation of warplanes a serious edge – and make life a lot harder for radar operators trying to spot them.