The Chinese military claims to have created a stealth cloak for tanks

Chinese military researchers say they have developed an invisibility cloak that can help ground forces avoid being detected by surveillance satellites' radars.

The stealth device was developed by a research team at the Air Force Engineering College in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, the South China Morning Post reported on April 14.

The "invisibility cloak" that the team has developed is in fact a fabric designed to vary in size to cover a variety of equipment such as tanks, artillery or radar stations.

Lead researcher Xu Hexiu and colleagues say that the suit's flexibility makes it nearly invisible to satellite radar.

Currently, stealth technology is common on fighter aircraft, helping to absorb radar signals, or using geometric structures to deflect radar.

However, ground assets such as tanks will not be able to use such technology, because the satellite will pick up the radar signal after encountering an obstacle that is the ground.

When the radar wave captures a non-planar object, such as a soldier or a tank, it bounces back to the satellite in multiple directions, allowing the computer to determine the size and shape of the object by analyzing these patterns. difference in the received signal.

However, when the team simulated radar waves to hit an object equipped with an "invisibility cloak", the computer analyzed the radar and produced a result that was consistent with the plane, ie, no signs of soldiers or soldiers were detected. weapons on radar. The further away the target is from the radar, the less likely it is to be exposed using jamming technology.

"Invisibility cloak" is designed from many layers to help jam radar signals.

To "fool" the radar, the "invisibility cloak" will have many layers. The top surface is used 3D printing technology to create a thin fabric layer with many printed circuits - electrical circuit boards used to interact with electromagnetic waves.

The team then applies multiple layers of thin plastic and metal to create what's known as a "meta surface" - which changes the radar signal. At this time, the satellite will receive the places covered with this mantle as flat surfaces.

Scientists say the technology can also counteract satellite radars that change the intensity and angle of their broadcasts to gather more details about a target.

"It still needs to be improved, such as reducing the thermal signal, optical camouflage or creating bait to achieve the expected effect," said Xu Hexiu.