Russian media has announced Russian scientists have designed and are testing a kind of "cloth" or cover that will make its military equipment invisible to precision-guided smart bombs and missiles favored by the United States military.
New technology in this special "cloth" will prevent smart bombs from locking onto a target the cloth covers. Precision-guided weapons of the type fired from U.S. jets and helicopters mostly use electro-optical (television), infrared or laser guidance to track and home into their targets.
These sensors are mounted on the nose of the smart weapon. The invisibility cloth apparently works by preventing these sensors from detecting the target.
It's no known if this invisibility cloth is effective against all three types of sensors (which is unlikely), or if it just works against a specific sensor. Statements by Russian officials, however, seem to indicate the invisibility cloth is only effective against infrared sensors.
The invisibility cloth was developed by Roselektronika, a defense industry firm that produces electronic components for military and civilian satellites. Roselektronika said it's testing its invisibility cloth but offered no other details.
"The main idea was to create a cover which would reduce radio signature of a facility both in visible and microwave spectra," said a representative from Roselektronika.
He also said the invisibility technology can also be used for peaceful purposes by preventing medical equipment radiation from spreading. The cloth, which is currently undergoing tests, is said to minimize the radiation danger and might even eliminate it.
Roselektronika plans to produce up to 90 percent of electronic components for the military and civilian satellites in Russia by 2018.