Exclusive: Domestically Developed Radar-Absorbing Stealth Paint Passes U.S. Tests

[Anchor]

Stealth fighter jets and warships manage to avoid radar detection either through specially designed shapes or by having their surfaces coated with radar-absorbing stealth paint. It has been confirmed that a stealth paint developed by a South Korean small and medium-sized enterprise has passed the U.S. Department of Defense tests with top marks.

Here is an exclusive report by Defense Specialist Reporter Kim Taehun.

[Reporter]

At the Agency for Defense Development testing site in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Radar waves are fired from a point 10 kilometers away at a South Korean Navy patrol boat whose hull surface is coated with stealth paint developed by a domestic small and medium-sized enterprise.

The test results measuring the radar cross-section showed a radar wave absorption rate of 85 – 88%.

This means a 36-meter-long patrol boat is captured on radar as if it were merely a 4-meter fishing boat.

It has been confirmed that on June 26, the U.S. Department of Defense issued the final Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program report passing this stealth paint, named "ION 1," to the developer.

[Hwang Young-woo / CEO of ETL, Stealth Paint Developer: While radar-absorbing performance is important, factors such as thickness, weight, workability, and durability must be specially verified. Especially since all materials are domestically produced...]

The U.S. Department of Defense evaluated that it can be applied to ground equipment, unmanned systems, ammunition, and surface ships alike.

In terms of Technology Readiness Level (TRL), it received a rating of Level 9, the highest level in the FCT.


[Lee Jung-seok / Former Vice President of the Agency for Defense Development: This means the U.S. Department of Defense officially recognized it as 'TRL 9,' which is a 'technology grade ready for immediate deployment in actual combat.' Because advanced defense materials have passed the world's highest level of verification...]

Passing the FCT is mandatory for weapons exports to the United States, and this is the second time a K-defense product has passed the FCT, following a major defense conglomerate's 2.75-inch guided rocket.

In particular, this is the first time a domestically produced defense material applicable to all land, naval, and air weapons has passed the FCT with a Technology Readiness Level of 9.

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon | Design: Han Seung-su)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.