Breaking new ground in stealth technology: KRISS develops core radar components domestically

(Press-News.org) The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has successfully localized core Radar Stealth technologies through indigenous development, without reliance on foreign technologies. This achievement is a significant milestone, laying the foundation for the establishment of stealth weapon systems in Korea, which have long been difficult to import due to their classification as national strategic military assets.

As global military tensions rise and competition in advanced weapon development intensifies, the importance of developing stealth weapon systems has increased significantly. Radar stealth technology, which absorbs or scatters electromagnetic waves to avoid detection by enemy radar, is a key element for ensuring both autonomy and concealment in weapon systems. As this technology is classified as a strategic military asset in leading countries, its import, particularly software and testing equipment, is strictly restricted, highlighting the continuous need for domestic development.

KRISS has successfully developed both a Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) design software and an electromagnetic wave evaluation system for radomes*—a vital component in radar stealth systems. This is the first case in which every stage of the process, from design, prototype fabrication, to performance testing, has been accomplished entirely using domestic technology, without reliance on foreign systems.

* Radome: A radome is a structural enclosure designed to protect radar or other antenna systems from external environmental factors. Typically constructed from materials that allow designated electromagnetic waves to pass through with minimal interference, a radome shields the antenna from weather conditions (such as rain, snow, and wind) and physical impacts, while also preventing accidents involving rotating antennas.

Radomes are hemispherical structures that enclose radar and communication antennas on aircraft, missiles, or other vehicles. They must be precisely designed to protect the internal systems from external environmental conditions while allowing electromagnetic signals to pass through with minimal distortion. In defense applications, radomes are subjected to extreme conditions such as high thermal loads and intense shock during high-speed flight. As such, they must simultaneously meet multiple performance requirements, including high electromagnetic transmittance and phase stability.

The FSS in a radome functions as a type of frequency filter, designed to selectively transmit or reflect electromagnetic waves at specific frequencies. To enhance the performance of the FSS, high-performance electromagnetic simulation software is essential for accurately modeling wave transmission characteristics. However, widely used commercial software packages are associated with significant cost barriers, with licenses for individual users exceeding KRW 100 million (approx. USD 75,000) and annual maintenance fees surpassing KRW 20 million (approx. USD 15,000).

KRISS has developed new FSS design software incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and parallel computation techniques. Optimized for analyzing radome structures composed of multilayer composite materials, the software delivers over a 50-fold increase in design speed compared to conventional tools.

Furthermore, KRISS has also developed an electromagnetic wave evaluation system that enables in-house performance testing and optimization of radomes. Traditionally, the process used to take over a month to complete electromagnetic tests required to meet the stringent performance standards of defense-grade radomes. By applying artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the newly developed system enables performance measurements more than five times faster than traditional testing methods. This advancement is expected to significantly reduce both the time and cost needed to deploy radomes in operational settings.

The technology, developed through collaborative research across four KRISS research groups*, has been transferred to Korea Electrotechnology Research (KER), a company specializing in advanced defense weapon systems and precision electromagnetic measurement equipment. The technology transfer, valued at 500 million KRW, was formalized through an agreement signing ceremony held at KRISS on Tuesday, August 5.

* Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group, Emerging Research Instruments Group, Quantum Electricity and Magnetism Metrology Group, and Material Property Metrology Group.

Dr. HONG Young-Pyo, Head of the Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group at KRISS, stated, "The technologies we have developed are not only applicable to the defense sector but also hold great potential for various radar-related industries, including mobility, maritime, and aerospace applications."

These research results were published in July in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, the world’s leading journal in the field of electromagnetics. Additionally, the design software and measurement equipment technologies have been separately filed for patent protection.

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