China has developed a “golden veil” device that disguises a missile-armed plane as a passenger plane (photo)
Scientists from Northwest Polytechnic University of China have developed a device called“golden veil“The missile is capable of deceiving air defense systems by making them think that a combat missile is a passenger plane.
The “Golden Veil” is made of thin threads intertwined like a spider’s web and covered with gold. Due to its complex geometry, spider webs can reflect radar signals. Laboratory tests have shown that the device increases the radar cross-section of a flying target from 1 to 30 decibels per square meter.
“This is similar to the radar signature generated by a large airplane such as a Boeing 737. Radar reflectors are already used by the United States on some of its missiles, such as the ADM-160 MALD, to make them appear to be airplanes on radar screens,” the developers write.
Military stealth aircraft, such as the F-22 fighter jet and the B2 bomber, also have removable reflectors – Luneburg lenses – that make them invisible to civilian air traffic control and hide their true radar signature.
The “Golden Veil” is distinguished from similar radar display technologies by its high flexibility. It can be opened and closed like an umbrella, many times. As a result, the missile or aircraft can switch between visible and covert modes throughout the flight.
The device is made of inexpensive materials that are widely available in China. According to the researchers, its weight is 1 kg, which is much less than that of its analogs. Due to its low weight, the missile can fly a longer distance or carry a larger warhead. The “Golden Veil” can also be installed on warships or ground equipment.
