• Ultra-thin metasurface coating withstands 1,832°F temperatures while absorbing radar waves at -42 decibels, researchers claim.
• The 0.1-millimeter graphene-based material maintains 99% effectiveness under supersonic airflow conditions typical of fighter jets.
• US stealth fighters rely on fragile coatings requiring costly upkeep, with F-22 maintenance estimated at $33,500 per flight hour.

BEIJING (TDR) — Chinese scientists claim they have developed a revolutionary heat-resistant coating for fighter jets that could help the People’s Liberation Army close the stealth technology gap with the United States, according to research published in a leading materials science journal.

Paper-Thin but Extreme

A study published October 14 in Advanced Materials details a scalable, flexible metasurface just 0.1 millimeter thick—roughly the thickness of two sheets of paper—capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit). The research was led by Cui Guang and Liu Zhongfan from Peking University, along with Wang Huihui from Peking University of Technology and Li Maoyuan from Harbin Engineering University.

The coating features “tunable impedance,” making it suitable for aerospace electromagnetic wave absorption while maintaining performance under the extreme conditions of supersonic flight. When subjected to airflow at 200 meters per second (447 mph)—conditions typical during high-speed operations—the coating lost less than 1 percent of its radar absorption capability, according to the South China Morning Post.

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“Integrating this metasurface directly into an aircraft’s thermal insulation layer can reduce radar reflection to -42 decibels without adding significant weight or altering the aircraft’s structure,” the researchers wrote.

From Chemical Vapor to Combat Ready

The team used a chemical vapor deposition technique to deposit graphene directly onto a silica fabric substrate, creating a graphene-silica fiber membrane (G@SFM)—a cloth-like material that is both lightweight and thermally stable. While the initial version proved ineffective at dispersing radar waves, researchers enhanced its electromagnetic properties using a subtractive laser patterning process.

This created a tunable metasurface—a structured layer that manipulates how electromagnetic waves interact with the surface, allowing the coating to absorb radar signals across various frequencies. The finished material is highly flexible with adjustable electrical resistance and low surface density.

“The material features tunable impedance, making it suitable for aerospace electromagnetic wave absorption. It shows balance between performance, durability and manufacturability,” the researchers stated.

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The technology could potentially be applied to stealth aircraft, satellites, drones, and hypersonic platforms exposed to extreme thermal and electromagnetic conditions. Potential civilian applications include electromagnetic shielding for high-temperature electronics and adaptive stealth systems for space missions.

America’s Maintenance Nightmare

The research highlights a critical vulnerability in current US stealth technology. American fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II rely on fragile, maintenance-intensive coatings that have proven expensive and problematic.

The F-22’s iron-based radar-absorbent paint is prone to peeling and corrosion, requiring costly upkeep in climate-controlled hangars. A 2023 US Department of Defense report estimated that the F-35A costs $28,500 per flight hour, second only to the F-22A’s staggering $33,500—partly due to high maintenance demands for stealth coatings.

Photos of a corroded F-35C aboard the USS Carl Vinson in July underscored the vulnerability of current US coatings to saltwater and humidity. Maintenance logs reveal that F-22 stealth coatings suffer from delamination under environmental stressors including high-speed flight, abrasive desert sandstorms, and coastal humidity—requiring reapplications every three weeks at an estimated $60,000 per flight hour, according to reports from Aviation Week.

Closing the Stealth Gap

At the 2025 Changchun Airshow, observers noted that the J-20 stealth fighter’s radar-absorbent surface appeared more durable and easier to maintain than that of US aircraft. The new metasurface technology, combined with other experimental materials such as a graphene-based MXene film developed in June by Sun Yat-sen University, suggests China is steadily advancing toward next-generation stealth coatings that combine radar, infrared, and thermal concealment in a single resilient layer.

China has also been developing complementary technologies to counter stealth aircraft. In November 2024, researchers from the National University of Defence Technology unveiled a coating that can convert electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from 70cm to 20cm into heat—covering the operating bandwidths of most current anti-stealth radars, namely the P-band and L-band.

Additionally, Chinese state media has reported mass production of quantum radar systems capable of tracking stealth aircraft like the F-22. Unlike traditional radar that relies on radio waves easily deflected by stealth designs, quantum radar employs entangled photons to detect subtle disturbances in quantum states, potentially rendering fifth-generation fighters vulnerable at ranges exceeding 100 kilometers.

Ancient Techniques, Modern Warfare

Earlier this year, Chinese researchers revealed another breakthrough inspired by 3,000-year-old silk weaving techniques from the Shang Dynasty. The jacquard loom principle was applied to create a “double-sided jacquard” structure in stealth materials, providing enhanced resistance to wear and better performance. That material reportedly absorbs 90.6 percent of radar waves across the 8-26 GHz spectrum and withstands tensile stresses exceeding 93.5 megapascals.

The convergence of these technologies—ultra-thin metasurfaces, ancient textile engineering, and quantum detection—signals China’s comprehensive approach to both achieving stealth superiority and defeating enemy stealth capabilities. Western intelligence sources express concern, viewing it as part of China’s broader “military-civil fusion” strategy that blends commercial advances with defense applications.

Whether these laboratory breakthroughs translate to operational advantages remains to be seen. But the contrast between China’s reported progress and America’s well-documented maintenance struggles suggests the stealth technology race is far from over.

Will China’s new coating technologies neutralize America’s stealth advantage, or are these claims overstated laboratory achievements? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Follow The Dupree Report for more coverage of military technology, stealth warfare, and the US-China technology race.

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