Invisible Jets? China Says Its New 'Cloak' Tech Can Make Aircraft Vanish From Radar

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 18:03 IST

Chinese scientists unveil an aero-amphibious invisibility cloak for drones, aiming for radar invisibility and a strategic edge for China over US stealth aircraft like F-22 and J-20

China has developed an "aero-amphibious invisibility cloak" for its drones. (News18 Hindi)

In a development that could reshape the future of aerial warfare, scientists in China say they have created an “aero-amphibious invisibility cloak" capable of rendering aircraft undetectable to radar. The breakthrough, announced by researchers at Zhejiang University, is being positioned as a potential game-changer for China’s growing drone fleet.

Dubbed a stealth shield, the cloak reportedly bends radar waves around aircraft, creating the effect of invisibility. Unlike traditional stealth technology, which relies on angled surfaces and radar-absorbing materials, the new system claims to make drones, and potentially other aircraft, vanish entirely from radar screens. Experts say this could allow drones to operate in contested airspace without triggering early warning systems.

Until now, global military powers have relied on stealth designs such as the United States’ F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and B-2 Spirit bomber. These aircraft minimise detection using composite materials like graphene and carbon fiber and low-reflectivity designs. Even so, advanced radar systems can still identify them under certain conditions. China’s new technology, if verified, aims to close this gap, potentially achieving full radar invisibility.

The Zhejiang University team has reportedly designed the cloak for high-speed drones, ensuring it works across air, water, and land environments and under varied weather conditions. While the technology is not yet deployed on fighter jets, reports indicate that it is intended for China’s drone fleet first, reflecting Beijing’s strategic focus on unmanned systems. Analysts say real invisibility for drones could confer a decisive edge in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in scenarios involving the United States and its regional allies.

The research builds on earlier advances in electromagnetic materials. By 2018, the Guangxi Advanced Institute of Technology was reportedly producing over 1,00,000 square feet of specialised materials annually, believed to be intended for China’s fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 fighter jet.

According to defence analysts Jeffrey Lin and PW Singer, the J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ may benefit from this line of research in the near future.

While the Chinese claim has generated significant international attention, defence experts caution that such announcements often mix genuine progress with strategic signalling. Verification remains a challenge, and the operational deployment of truly invisible aircraft is yet to be confirmed outside controlled testing environments.

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