Australian defence and technology company Tenix has developed a way to modify warships to make them radically harder to detect by radar. Detailed research and development by Tenix and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation indicates a new system of lightweight reflective panels can substantially reduce the radar cross-section of ships with no inherent “stealth” features.

Details of the new stealth system remain confidential. Existing systems tend to use material which partly absorbs radar signals. The Tenix system reflects the radar signal away from the source, and modelling suggests this approach will prove dramatically more effective.“The new system provides opportunities to both retrofit existing fleets, and to be incorporated into new designs. It is a tremendous advance, and evidence that Australia’s defence industry can deliver,” Tenix Group Managing Director Mr Salteri said.