It's really a case of being outdated the moment it enters service. The Fujian aircraft has not even been commissioned yet, but the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) has already publicly disclosed the details of the J-35, and even confirmed that the J-35 adopts China's original and unique metamaterial stealth technology, directly surpassing the U.S. military by one generation. This is a desperate message for the United States.

What is metamaterial?

Before understanding metamaterial, let's first learn about the defects of the stealth material used in the F-35. The F-35 uses a stealth coating, which is the HAVE GLASS V stealth coating developed by Lockheed Martin.

This dark gray coating with a metallic sheen has dual functions of radar and infrared stealth. Lockheed Martin claims that the HAVE GLASS V is more wear-resistant and durable than the previous generation stealth coating used on the F-22, significantly reducing the maintenance requirements for low observability (LO) of the aircraft. However, the F-35 has frequently been reported to have issues with its stealth coating not being suitable for high-temperature and dry climates, with the coating deteriorating faster than expected, so much so that the coating peels off after each flight.

In reality, the F-35 is not only unsuitable for high-temperature and dry climates, but also lacks resistance to salt and corrosion. Therefore, the F-35C stealth carrier-based aircraft deployed at sea for only half a year already shows rust and peeling of the stealth coating. However, the problems have persisted for so long without any improvements, which makes one wonder if the exorbitant U.S. military budget is all wasted.

It is precisely because of these problems with the stealth coating that Chinese scientists have skipped over the stealth coating and directly researched metamaterial technology.

Metamaterial is considered by the United States to be a stealth technology used in sixth-generation aircraft. However, now the fifth-generation aircraft, the J-20A and J-35 of China, both use it. It must be said that China is indeed ahead of the United States by one generation in many aspects. For example, the J-10C of China uses the gallium nitride active phased array radar used in fifth-generation aircraft, which can lock onto the Rafale fighter at a distance of 200 kilometers.

Metamaterial is essentially an artificial composite structure or composite material that exhibits extraordinary physical properties not found in natural materials. There are many types of metamaterials, and what we are referring to here is artificial electromagnetic metamaterials.

What is metamaterial? How powerful is it?

Artificial electromagnetic metamaterial is a new type of artificial composite material made up of artificial "atoms" on a sub-wavelength scale, arranged periodically or non-periodically. By designing the geometry, size, and arrangement of the units, the electromagnetic parameters of this kind of material can be arbitrarily and flexibly controlled, allowing the designed metamaterial to exhibit special electromagnetic properties not found in natural materials, such as negative magnetic permeability, negative dielectric constant, and negative refractive index, thus greatly enriching the methods and means of controlling electromagnetic waves.

In simple terms, the traditional stealth coating on aircraft is like a very advanced "absorbing sponge," whose core task is to absorb as much radar waves as possible, thereby reducing the reflected signal. We have already mentioned the disadvantages of this approach above.

Metamaterial technology, on the other hand, involves scientists designing countless microscopic structures on the material surface that are smaller than the wavelength of the radar wave. These structures act like tiny lenses or mirrors. When the radar wave hits this intelligent surface, the metamaterial does not simply absorb it but skillfully guides and controls the electromagnetic wave through carefully designed structures. For example, it can prevent the electromagnetic wave from reflecting while also preventing it from being absorbed, thus achieving a "negative refractive index," guiding the electromagnetic wave around an object, and even distorting the radar wave into completely different signals, creating false target illusions.

Metamaterial is integrated with the aircraft skin, thus reducing the load on the J-35, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance like the U.S. F-35, which greatly improves the combat readiness of the aircraft. Although nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can provide unlimited endurance, the F-35 has already rusted within half a year, which also affects combat effectiveness.

Several Chinese stealth aircraft chief designers have revealed that metamaterial reduces the weight of the stealth structure by 50% and fundamentally solves the maintenance problem of traditional paint-based stealth. The lifecycle cost is reduced by 40%.

China's original metamaterial internal structure

This means that even if the United States develops anti-stealth radar, it will be meaningless against our J-35 and J-20. Because our stealth technology is at another level.

At present, the J-35 and the F-35C are not even in the same dimension of fifth-generation aircraft. In addition to having metamaterial stealth technology that is one generation ahead, the J-35 has a simple and smooth body design, giving it stronger stealth performance. As an air superiority fighter, it has more flexible maneuverability and supersonic cruise capability. In addition, the J-35 is equipped with China's most advanced gallium nitride active phased array radar and the newly developed PL-16 missile.

What about the F-35? Its bulky body and excessive curves on the belly result in poor stealth performance underneath. Moreover, it lacks supersonic cruise capability. Its radar is still gallium arsenide radar, and it is not an air superiority fighter. How can it compete with our J-35?

It's no wonder that U.S. media say that once our J-35 is commissioned, the U.S. will lose its air superiority in the Western Pacific.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555152873550512694/

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