Signature Reduction using Metasurfaces on Group 1 UAV Platforms

Enemies use radar system to identify and target Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). To prevent detection, the UAV should be able to reduce its RF signature by reducing its Radar Cross Section (RCS). Traditional Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) are used to absorb radar's Electromagnetic energy to reduce an aircraft's RCS but this material can be thick, heavy, and have high material and maintenance costs. Notch's metasurface technology can controllably absorb enemy radar, reducing the UAV's RCS. Notch's metamaterial technology is light-weight, inexpensive to manufacture and software controllable. The goal of this Phase II effort is to integrate the metamaterial technology on a UAV and test it in flight to verify its RF signature reduction.