China claims to have developed a technology called “golden veil” that can help their cruise missiles look like a passenger plane on a radar screen. The low-cost technology is meant to confuse sophisticated air defense systems and reduce the time to shoot down the missiles.
A research team in northwest China has undertaken the project. It is an integral component of China’s continuous endeavor to establish diverse methods to defeat air defense systems within the first island chain, Guam, and even the United States mainland.
Dubbed the “Golden Veil,” this innovation purportedly functions by modifying the radar cross-section of a missile to imitate the presence of sizable airplanes like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320. By attaching it akin to an umbrella, an airborne weapon can seamlessly transition between visible and stealth modes throughout its flight, a report in the South China Morning Post said.
According to Chinese military experts, although China’s military stance is primarily “defensive,” these capabilities would be a potent deterrent against foreign interference in regional matters like Taiwan or the South China Sea.
In a recent publication in the peer-reviewed Chinese Journal of Radio Science, Zong Yali and her colleagues explained that the veil is constructed using delicate gold-plated metal threads. These golden threads intricately weave together to create a complex geometric web, which effectively reflects radar signals.
The technology, weighing approximately one kilogram (2.2 pounds), is designed to be compatible with a range of missiles utilized by the People’s Liberation Army. Furthermore, it is constructed using cost-effective materials, indicating a potential surge in demand in the coming years. The invention can revolutionize warfare by greatly influencing aerial combat tactics.
Zong, an associate professor of radar science at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian, Shaanxi province, has been quoted in the report, saying that laboratory testing has indicated that the device can increase the radar cross-section of a flying target from less than one to more than 30 decibels per square meter. This enhancement level is comparable to the radar signature of large aircraft like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 when observed from specific angles.
The US already employs radar reflectors on certain missiles, such as the ADM-160 MALD, to give them the appearance of airplanes on radar screens. Stealth military aircraft, such as the F-22 fighter and B2 bomber, commonly utilize removable reflectors called Luneburg lenses to ensure visibility to civilian air traffic control while concealing their genuine radar signature.
In a recent paper, Zong highlighted the increasing complexity of electronic warfare, rapidly introducing new electronic countermeasure equipment and tools. These advancements are revolutionizing the nature of warfare. (Eurasia Times)