Why in news:

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have announced the creation of an artificial structure/material that can make stealth vehicles and well as covert establishments less visible to a radar. The development has huge potential for use in the Indian army as well as other security agencies.

Key Points:

• This material developed by the institute can absorb a wide range of radar frequencies, irrespective of the direction from where signals hit the target. It can also be used to cover windows or glass panels of stealth vehicles and covert establishments that must be invisible to radars.
• It is noteworthy that radars are used in defence and civil sectors for surveillance and navigation in order  to detect and track aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and movements within covert establishments. Being invisible to radars is a crucial defence strategy and the ability to evade radar detection can reduce chances of being targeted by enemy weapons.
• Any technology that makes things invisible to radars can also be used in the commercial sector to reduce radiation leakages from buildings and make them more secure. For example, invisibility to radar can also be used in private or covert establishments for privacy.
• This technology can be used in defence applications to reduce or eliminate radar signature of military equipment, such as aircraft, ships and other vehicles.
• The researchers at the university claim to have developed the technology based on frequency selective surface (FSS) that absorbs a wide range of frequencies used in radars, which makes surface invisible to radars. Tests conducted by the researchers have shown that the FSS technology used can absorb more than 90% of radar waves in a wide range of frequencies. The team performed experimental studies on their design and the results matched well with the theoretical analysis, verifying its effectiveness.