Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct?
- 1.Stealth objects have a very small radar cross-section and are coated with Radar Absorbing Material.
- 2.Stealth objects can be detected using specific frequencies.
- 3.Stealth objects are coated with metamaterials to increase the scattering of electromagnetic radiation.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Stealth technology aims to make an aircraft or ship nearly invisible to radar by shaping it and coating it with materials that absorb radar, so it sends back a very small echo. Coatings are meant to cut the returned signal, not to increase scattering.
- ✓ 1. Stealth designs aim for a very small radar cross-section, and radar-absorbing materials are a standard part of it. The B-2's stealth features include radar-absorbing materials, and its radar cross-section is reported to be like that of a small bird.
- ✓ 2. UPSC's official key treats this statement as correct; we could not confirm the detail from an official source, so we do not explain it here.
- ✗ 3. Britannica notes that surface materials and coatings are used to absorb radar transmissions and reduce reflections to the enemy's radar receiver. Increasing scattering would make the object easier to detect, which defeats the purpose.
Remember · Stealth = very small radar cross-section using shaping and radar-absorbing coatings; coatings reduce, never increase, the radar echo.
Sources
- DD News (Prasar Bharati): US B-2 bombers and bunker-busters used in Iran strike (22 June 2025) ↗ “The B-2’s stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimize detection by enemy air defense systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar.”
- DD News (Prasar Bharati): Indian Navy to commission indigenous stealth frigate Taragiri on April 3 ↗ “the vessel represents an advanced iteration of earlier designs, featuring improved stealth characteristics and a reduced radar cross-section.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Stealth ↗ · reference work “any military technology intended to make vehicles or missiles nearly invisible to enemy radar or other electronic detection. … For example, surface materials and coatings can absorb radar transmissions, reducing reflections to an enemy’s radar receiver.”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·