DRDO Develops Indigenous Radar-Absorbing Paint to Reduce Aircraft Radar Signatures

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed indigenous radar-absorbing paint technology designed to reduce the radar signatures of military aircraft and other defence platforms. Developed by Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur (DLJ), the specialised coating absorbs electromagnetic energy and reduces radar reflections, strengthening India’s capabilities in advanced stealth materials and defence technology.

The development forms part of DRDO’s research into radar cross-section reduction, electromagnetic materials and low-observable military systems. According to official DRDO technical publications, the laboratory has developed polyurethane-based radar-absorbing paint using indigenous magnetic filler materials. The coating combines radar absorption properties with the durability required for demanding military applications.

Beyond developing the paint itself, DRDO has established processes for producing specialised magnetic materials used in radar-absorbing coatings and structures. These advances strengthen India’s domestic expertise in material formulation, electromagnetic engineering and manufacturing technologies essential for modern defence systems.

Defence Laboratory Jodhpur Develops Indigenous Stealth Coating

Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, has developed a two-pack radar-absorbing paint system using specially engineered magnetic filler materials. Scientists have optimised the coating’s composition, filler concentration and thickness to absorb electromagnetic energy within selected radar-frequency ranges. The technology uses a polyurethane resin system that supports the application of these functional materials to suitable structural surfaces.

The coating has been designed for military environments where radar absorption must be combined with mechanical strength and resistance to operational conditions. DRDO’s technical documentation identifies applications involving airborne and land-based defence platforms, particularly those requiring reduced radar reflections from selected surfaces. The ability to formulate and manufacture these specialised coatings domestically represents an important achievement in India’s advanced materials research.

How Radar-Absorbing Paint Reduces Aircraft Radar Signatures

Radar systems detect aircraft by transmitting electromagnetic waves and analysing the signals reflected towards their receivers. The strength of these reflections depends on the aircraft’s shape, surface materials, orientation and the frequency of the radar signal. Radar cross-section, commonly known as RCS, measures how strongly an object reflects radar energy in a particular direction.

Radar-absorbing paint helps reduce these reflections by converting part of the incoming electromagnetic energy into other forms, principally heat. DRDO’s coating incorporates magnetic particles that interact with electromagnetic waves and reduce the energy reflected from treated surfaces. The effectiveness of the material depends on its formulation, thickness and the frequency range for which it has been optimised.

Such coatings do not make aircraft invisible to radar. Instead, they contribute to radar signature management by reducing reflections from specific surfaces under suitable conditions. Their effectiveness is therefore closely connected to the overall design of the aircraft and the characteristics of the radar system attempting to detect it.

DRDO Reports Over 90% Microwave Absorption Under Specified Conditions

One of the notable features of DRDO’s indigenous radar-absorbing paint is its documented microwave absorption performance. According to the laboratory’s technical information, the coating demonstrates more than 90% microwave absorption under specified testing conditions. This indicates the ability of the material to absorb a substantial proportion of incident microwave energy within its intended operating range.

The reported figure describes the electromagnetic absorption performance of the coating rather than a corresponding reduction in an aircraft’s overall radar cross-section. Actual radar signature reduction depends on several factors, including the surface area treated, coating configuration, aircraft geometry and radar frequency. Nevertheless, the absorption characteristics demonstrate the potential of indigenous materials to contribute to specialised defence applications.

DRDO has also developed the coating to withstand the environmental conditions associated with military operations. The technical specifications identify resistance to water, hydraulic oil and aviation turbine fuel, along with stability under temperature variations and thermal shock. The coating has also been evaluated for its ability to withstand aerodynamic vibration, an important consideration for materials applied to aircraft structures.

Radar-Absorbing Paint Designed for Aircraft Surfaces and Components

DRDO has identified several aircraft components where radar-absorbing paint can be applied to help manage electromagnetic reflections. These include air-intake ducts, wing surfaces, radome bulkheads, pylons, leading edges and splitter gaps. Depending on their geometry and orientation, such surfaces can contribute to an aircraft’s overall radar signature.

The indigenous coating has been developed for use on aluminium, aluminium alloys and carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer composites. These materials are widely employed in aircraft structures, making compatibility an important requirement for specialised surface treatments. DRDO’s documentation indicates that the coating can be applied without adversely affecting the structural properties of suitable substrates.

Another important feature is the use of conventional spray equipment for applying the paint. The formulation supports application to complex surfaces and permits drying and curing at room temperature under appropriate conditions. These characteristics can simplify coating procedures and expand the practical utility of the technology in defence manufacturing and maintenance environments.

Indigenous Magnetic Materials Strengthen India’s Stealth Technology Base

The development of radar-absorbing paint is supported by Defence Laboratory Jodhpur’s broader work on magnetic materials and electromagnetic absorption technologies. The laboratory has developed indigenous processes for producing magnetic flakes and specialised ferrite materials used in radar-absorbing coatings, sheets and structures. These materials possess electromagnetic properties that allow them to interact with incident radar energy and reduce reflections within selected frequency ranges.

DRDO researchers have worked on controlling particle dimensions, material composition and processing characteristics to obtain consistent absorption performance. The laboratory has also developed production techniques for spinel and hexaferrite materials, which have applications in advanced electromagnetic systems. Such materials form an important foundation for manufacturing functional coatings and other radar signature reduction products.

DRDO’s January–February 2024 Technology Focus publication documented the laboratory’s progress in radar-absorbing paints, flexible rubber sheets and specialised electromagnetic materials. The publication also highlighted advanced evaluation activities involving radar-absorbing structures intended to reduce the radar cross-section of specific airborne targets. Together, these developments demonstrate a broader indigenous research capability extending beyond a single coating formulation.

DRDO Transfers Radar-Absorbing Paint Technology to Indian Industry

DRDO has also taken steps to expand industrial participation in the manufacturing of radar-absorbing materials. During the Defence Laboratory Jodhpur Industry Synergy Meet, SAMAGAM 2025, held on November 21, 2025, the organisation transferred several indigenous technologies to industry partners through licensing agreements.

According to the December 2025 edition of the DRDO Newsletter, radar-absorbing paint was among eight technologies covered by the technology-transfer agreements. Other technologies included lightweight, high-strength flexible radar-absorbing rubber sheets and microwave-absorbing spinel ferrite powder. The programme brought together DRDO scientists, defence manufacturers, MSMEs and startups to strengthen cooperation between research establishments and domestic industry.

The transfer of radar-absorbing paint technology represents an important step towards developing manufacturing capabilities outside DRDO laboratories. Licensed industrial production can support the wider availability of specialised coatings while strengthening domestic supply chains for advanced defence materials. It also provides opportunities for Indian companies to participate in the development and production of technologies that require considerable expertise in materials engineering.

Indigenous Radar-Absorbing Materials Support Advanced Combat Aviation

Radar signature management has become an important element of modern military aircraft design. Combat aircraft employ combinations of aerodynamic shaping, structural arrangements, materials engineering and specialised surface treatments to reduce radar reflections. Radar-absorbing coatings complement these measures by addressing electromagnetic reflections from selected aircraft components.

India’s development of indigenous radar-absorbing paint provides an additional technological capability relevant to combat aviation, unmanned aerial platforms and other military systems. The coating technology can support research and engineering efforts involving low-observable structures while contributing to the domestic development of specialised materials required for advanced defence applications.

DRDO’s official publications establish the development, evaluation and industrial transfer of the coating technology. However, they do not confirm recent flight testing of the paint aboard the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The documented achievement is the indigenous development of radar-absorbing materials and their progression towards industrial manufacturing.

DRDO’s Stealth Materials Research Advances Atmanirbhar Bharat

The development of indigenous radar-absorbing paint reflects India’s growing expertise in advanced defence materials and electromagnetic engineering. By combining magnetic filler technology, specialised coating formulations and environmental durability, Defence Laboratory Jodhpur has established capabilities relevant to radar signature reduction across several military applications.

The technology also demonstrates the importance of integrating fundamental materials research with practical engineering requirements. Radar-absorbing coatings must deliver electromagnetic performance while remaining compatible with structural materials and operational environments. DRDO’s work addresses these requirements through indigenous formulation, testing and manufacturing processes.

The transfer of these technologies to Indian industry further strengthens the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. It creates opportunities for domestic companies to develop production expertise in specialised coatings, magnetic materials and related technologies.

As India advances its combat aviation and defence research programmes, indigenous radar-absorbing materials will contribute to the technological foundation required for increasingly sophisticated military systems. DRDO’s achievements in this field reinforce the country’s progress towards greater self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.

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References

1. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — Technology Focus, January–February 2024: Stealth, Camouflage and Countermeasure Technologies. Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur.
   https://drdo.gov.in/drdo/sites/default/files/technology-focus-documrnt/TF_JanFeb2024.pdf
2. DRDO, Defence Laboratory Jodhpur — Radar Absorbing Paint: Technology Transfer Document, March 2025.
   https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/sites/default/files/tot/RadarAbsorbingPaint27032025.pdf
3. DRDO Newsletter, December 2025 — Defence Laboratory Jodhpur Industry Synergy Meet, SAMAGAM 2025, and transfer of indigenous radar-absorbing technologies to industry.
   https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/sites/default/files/publication-document/NL_Dec_2025.pdf

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