Israeli Firm Develops Nanotech Stealth Paint

Israel's Nanoflight has been developing a paint that could significantly reduce the radar signature of missiles, aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The paint, which has not been named, was developed in a nanotechnology laboratory and tested in mid-July 2010.

"This is a breakthrough with the potential to change the rules of the game in the battlefield," Nanoflight executive Eli Shaldag, a former senior Air Force officer, said.

Shaldag, who worked on Israel's Arrow missile defense project, said Nanoflight has completed the main development stage and underwent several trials. He said the paint was based on nano research that led to the composition of elements that significantly reduce thermal and radar signatures.

"We conducted a number of tests and discovered that the particles in their nanotechnology composition do significantly neutralize the ability to detect objects that have been painted with the material," Shaldag said.

Executives said the special paint, which absorbs electromagnetic waves, could also protect ground platforms from radar detection. In the latest test, first reported by Israel's Ynet news agency, the paint was applied to dummy missiles, which when launched appeared to evade most radar identification.

Nanoflight has been marketing the paint as an alternative to the procurement of expensive stealth aircraft. Executives said although radar could still detect an object on the screen, identification would be extremely difficult.

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