Portuguese Graphene Material Could Render Planes, Drones Invisible to Radar

Portuguese company GTechPlasma is developing a novel graphene-based material designed to absorb radar waves, potentially rendering aircraft and drones nearly invisible to radar detection. This innovation, stemming from a spin-off of the Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Institute at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, utilizes a patented plasma-based system to produce customized, high-quality graphene.

Bruno Soares Gonçalves, co-founder of GTechPlasma, explained that the material's primary focus is on absorbing electromagnetic radiation, making it ideal for stealth applications in the defence sector. He highlighted that while similar solutions are rare and export-controlled, GTechPlasma's material, developed in Portugal, offers a unique alternative. The company estimates its material could reduce an F-16's radar signature to that of a bird, providing a significant strategic advantage by delaying or preventing detection.

Beyond defence, the technology has potential applications in electromagnetic shielding and other areas requiring radiation reduction. GTechPlasma is actively working towards industrialization, with devices already producing 40 milligrams of graphene per minute. They are partnering with Plasmaphene to scale up production and aim to develop ready-to-apply solutions like coatings and paints, moving beyond supplying raw powder to end-users.

The company has already supplied 260 grams of the radar-absorbing material to a Portuguese drone manufacturer and seeks further partnerships within the defence industry. This development could position Portugal at the forefront of graphene-based stealth technologies.