A researcher in Turkey has created a spray-on radar-absorbent material (RAM) that could make small drones and uncrewed aerial vehicles much harder to detect.
The material, called Kürşat 3.0, is made from volcanic basalt and pumice. It reportedly reduces radar return signals by up to 43 dB, which is much better than the 20-30 dB reduction seen in many current radar-absorbent coatings.
The stealth spray coating is the culmination of seven years of work carried out by researcher Yunus İnce, alongside colleagues in a small defense research firm. Traditional stealth relies primarily on shaping to deflect radar waves away from the emitter, with absorbent materials handling residual energy by converting it to heat.
Large manned aircraft such as the F-35 can incorporate complex faceted or contoured designs supported by advanced computing. Small UAVs, however, prioritize aerodynamic efficiency and payload over specialized geometry. Quadcopters in particular present strong radar returns from exposed rotor blades. A simple spray-on coating can offer a practical retrofit solution for existing airframes.
The Kürşat 3.0 material leverages the microscopic porous structure of volcanic rock to trap electromagnetic waves. If the performance claims hold true, the lightweight spray could make difficult-to-spot miniature drones even harder to detect. However, the researchers did note potential limitations, including added weight, surface drag, and durability under flight conditions.
According to a report by Defense Blog, İnce provided the publication with test footage demonstrating the claimed performance. Independent third-party validation will be required to confirm the results under standardized conditions and assess real-world effectiveness against military radar systems.
The coating does not make drones completely invisible to radar, and the researchers say it should be used along with other stealth features. Still, for mass-produced tactical drones flying in dangerous areas, even a small reduction in radar signature can help them survive and complete their missions.
If this technology is proven and can be produced at scale, it could affect both military and commercial drone use. More information about how thick the coating needs to be, how it holds up in different environments, and how much it costs to use has not yet been shared. Defense experts are waiting for peer-reviewed test results and signs that drone makers might start using it.
The development arrives amid a rapid rise in drone warfare. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, low-cost UAVs have demonstrated deadly efficiency when it comes to penetrating enemy lines. In May 2024, Ukrainian military officials stated that “drones kill more soldiers on both sides than anything else.”
Militaries worldwide have responded by fielding countermeasures, including laser systems, high-power microwaves, and conventional kinetic interceptors. In parallel, drone manufacturers are developing affordable ways to lower radar cross-sections without compromising their platform’s core advantages of small size, low cost, and simplicity.
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Chris Young is a journalist, copywriter, blogger and tech geek at heart who’s reported on the likes of the Mobile World Congress, written for Lifehack, The Culture Trip, Flydoscope and some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including NEC and Thales, about robots, satellites and other world-changing innovations.
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