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Stealth Based Ship Design on Academic Level and Role of Naval Architects in
Radar Stealth for Ships

Conference Paper · June 2012

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ICMT2012, 25-28 June 2012, Harbin

Stealth Based Ship Design on Academic Level and Role of

Naval Architects in Radar Stealth for Ships
Jawad Khan*, Wenyang Duan and H.M. Rizwan Amir
College of Shipbuilding Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China

Abstract: Stealth technologies are under immense focus due to their increasing use/demand in defense sector
worldwide. The stealth ship technologies are underexplored and underutilized compared to stealth aircraft. This
study investigates the need of exploring stealth based ship design on academic level and role of naval
architect(s) in radar stealth for ships. The paper will present a study of existing ships with one are more stealth
technologies, and make a case for stealth ship exploration and setup on academic level due to frequent use of
stealth technologies on ships today. Naval Architect(s)’s role in radar stealth for ships is discussed.
Keywords: stealth ships; radar cross section (RCS); shaping; radar absorbing materials (RAM)

1 Introduction1 cancelation, shaping and radar absorbing materials. Shaping

Stealth technologies are under immense focus due to their
increasing use and demand in defense sector worldwide.
Stealth technologies make military platforms less visible to
radar, infrared and sonar sensors. The low visibility implies
late detection which is vital to capitalize on the elements of
surprise, initiative and covertness. This study deals with radar
and infrared aspects of stealth for ships.
continues to be the most effective stealth method. Shaping is
implemented by manipulating above waterline geometry and
general arrangements on ships. Naval Architects have most
control over both geometry and general arrangements. Thus,
Naval Architects are most suited to implement shaping to
acquire radar stealth.

Stealth technologies have been explored and applied

extensively in stealth aircraft industry. Although most of the
specific material remains classified till date due to
confidential nature of research, yet enough material is
available to study and explore stealth aircraft technologies on
academic level. The stealth ship technologies are particularly
underexplored and underutilized compared to stealth aircraft.
The reasons are late start of stealth related work on ships,
complexities due to presence of water-surface, dominant
multiple-bounce mechanism, and complicated geometry and 
general arrangements compared to stealth aircraft. Fig. 1 F-117 Nighthawk
Consequently, there is very little, if any, stealth ship
exploration and setup on academic level.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the need of

exploring stealth based ship design on academic level and
role of naval architects in radar stealth for ships. The paper
will present a study of existing ships with one are more
stealth technologies. The results make a strong case for stealth
ship exploration and setup on academic level due to frequent
use of stealth technologies on ships today. The author will
also comment on the advantages of such setup. Radar stealth

Fig. 2 B-2 Spirit
can be acquired through passive cancellation, active

Foundation item: Supported by Program for New Century Excellent

Talents in University under Grant No.NCET-07-0230 and the “111” Project
under Grant No.B07019 at Harbin Engineering University.
*Corresponding author Email: jawadkhan2008@hotmail.com

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 ICMT2012, 25-28 June 2012, Harbin

Table 1 Naval Platforms Included in Stealth Based Ship Design Study

S NO NAVAL PLATFORM S NO NAVAL PLATFORM
1 Sea Shadow 20 Shivalik P17 Class Frigate
2 M80 Stiletto 21 Shivalik P17A Class Frigate
3 Triton Trimaran Ship 22 Visby Class Corvette
4 Zumwalt Class Destroyer 23 Baynunah Class Corvette
5 Daring Class Destroyer 24 Eilat Class Corvette
6 Project 21956 Destroyer 25 Gowind Class Corvette
7 Luyang II Class Destroyer 26 Braunschweig Class Corvette
8 Kolkata Class Destroyer 27 MEKO A Class Corvette
9 Formidable Class Frigate 28 Qahir Class Corvette
10 La Fayette Class Frigate 29 Buyan Class Corvette
11 Brandenburg Class Frigate 30 Tigr Steregushchy Class Corvette
12 De Zeven Provincien Class Frigate 31 Littoral Combat Ship
13 Sachsen Class Frigate 32 Absalon Class Ship
14 Baden-Württemberg Class Frigate 33 Skjold Class Missile Boat
15 Jiangkai I Class Frigate 34 Holland Class Patrol Vessel
16 Jiangkai II Class Frigate 35 Hamina Class Missile Boat
17 Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate 36 Houbei Class Missile Boat
18 Sergey Gorshkov Class Frigate 37 Kedah Class Patrol Vessel
19 Al-Riyadh Class Frigate

technologies were used on. The chart in Fig. 6 illustrates that

stealth technologies are being used rather frequently on ships.
Thus an academic setup to explore stealth ship technologies is
vital to facilitate defense industry in stealth applications. The
advantages are availability of professionals, faster
development of stealth ship applications and reduction in
monetary cost. The classified nature of these technologies is
an issue which can be managed along practices of stealth
aircraft academia whereby specifics remain classified, yet
necessary academic setup exists.

Fig. 4 Daring Class Destroyer

Fig. 3 Sea Shadow

2 Stealth Based Ship Design on Academic

Level
The necessity of exploring stealth based ship design on
academic level has been studied. The methodology is to study
existing ships with one are more stealth technologies. The
degree of unitization of stealth technologies on existing ships
is expected to gage the demand, career potential and market
value of ship stealth technologies. The ships included in this
study have been listed in Table 1. Stealth techniques i.e. Fig. 5 De Zeven Provincien Class Frigate
geometry/shaping, infrared/heat signature, materials and
paints have been plotted against no of ships these

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ICMT2012, 25-28 June 2012, Harbin

Fig. 6 Stealth Techniques on Ships

3 Role of Naval Architect(s) in Radar Stealth Champagne et al., 1992). Large and complex geometry of a
naval ship results in hundreds of reflecting sources, it is not
for Ships
practical to devise a passive cancellation treatment for each of
The other aspect of this study is to examine the role of naval these sources. In addition, the cancellation can revert to
architect(s) in radar stealth for ships. Radar stealth is achieved reinforcement with change in frequency or viewing angle. As
by reducing radar cross section (RCS) of a ship. RCS a result, passive cancellation is generally discarded as a
reduction options and role of naval architects in radar stealth practical RCS reduction technique for naval ships.
for ships have been discussed in following sections.
Active cancellation, also known as active loading, suggests
3.1 RCS Reduction Options that the target must emit radiation in time coincidence with
the incoming pulse whose amplitude and phase cancel the
Following four methods can be used for reducing RCS
reflected energy. This implies that the target must be smart
enough to sense the angle of arrival, intensity, frequency, and
a. Passive cancellation
waveform of the incident wave. It must also be fast enough to
b. Active cancellation
know its own echo characteristics for that particular wave to
c. Shaping
rapidly generate the proper wave. Such a system must also be
d. Radar absorbing materials (RAMs)
versatile enough to adjust and radiate the proper wave with
change in frequency. The relative difficulty of active
Passive cancellation, also known as impedance loading,
cancellation increases with increase in frequency (Knott et al.,
proposes introducing an echo source whose amplitude and
2004; Skolnik, 2008). Active cancellation can only be
phase can be adjusted to cancel another echo source. This can
considered for reducing RCS at low frequencies where radar
be achieved for simple objects, provided that a loading point
absorbing materials and shaping are not very effective, so
can be identified on the body (Schindler et al., 1965; Lin and
research on this technique is likely to continue (Xiang et al.,
Chen, 1968; Yu and Liang, 1971). Subsequently, a port is
2010). However, this technique is not practical to implement
designed in the body with size and shape of the interior cavity
on naval ships with the existing technologies.
to present optimum impedance at aperture. However, it is
difficult to generate the required frequency dependence for
Shaping is the most suitable and extensively used technique
this built-in impedance, and the reduction obtained for one
for reducing RCS. The concept of shaping is to orient the
frequency disappears as frequency changes. This technique is
target surfaces and edges to deflect the scattered energy in
generally used to control the RCS of antennas (Popovic, 1971;
directions away from the radar. It is accomplished by

489

maximizing scattering into directions of space where threat
receivers are not present (Knott et al., 2004; Skolnik, 2008;
Jenn, 2005). Shaping techniques have been very on military
platforms such as stealth aircraft, tanks and trucks etc. The
aspect of shaping is very complex in case of ships due to
complicated geometry and dominant multiple bounce
mechanism. While applying shaping, ship RCS is reduced by
controlling geometry and general arrangements of above
waterline structure. Shaping has more potential in ships than
aircraft due to presence of dominant multiple bounce
scattering effects.
Radar absorbing materials (RAMs) reduce the energy
reflected back to the radar by means of absorption, converting
electromagnetic energy into heat. It is customary to gather the
effects of all loss mechanisms into permittivity and
permeability of the material because the designer is usually
interested in the cumulative effect (Strifors and Gaunaurd,
1998; Swarner and Peters, 1963). Specifically, the RAM
characteristics depend on its dielectric properties (material
permittivity) and its magnetic properties (material
permeability). Therefore, RAM can be classified into two
broad categories, either dielectric or magnetic absorbers. The
foundation of RAMs is the fact that substances either exist or
can be fabricated whose indices of refraction are complex
numbers. In the index of refraction, the imaginary part
accounts for both electrical and magnetic losses. Dielectric
radar absorbers are used for experimental and diagnostic
work such as indoor microwave anechoic chambers. However,
these absorbers are not flexible for applications on
operational platforms due to their bulky and fragile nature.
Instead, magnetic absorbers are used on operational systems.
The basic ingredients of magnetic absorbers are compounds
of iron, such as carbonyl iron and ferrites. Magnetic absorbers
offer the advantage of compactness since they are typically a
fraction of the thickness of dielectric absorbers. However,
magnetic absorbers are inherently narrowband than their
dielectric counterparts. The basic absorbing material is
usually embedded in a matrix or binder such that the
composite structure has the appropriate electromagnetic
characteristics for a given range of frequencies.
3.2 Radar Stealth for Ships and Naval Architect(s)
Passive cancellation and active cancellation are generally
discarded as useful RCSR techniques on warships due to
practical limitations. Practically used ship RCS reduction
methods are shaping and radar absorbing materials. In current
stealth ship design, shaping techniques are first applied to
create a design shape with low RCS in primary threat sectors.
Radar absorbing materials are then used to treat remaining
problem areas whose shape could not be optimized to reduce
RCS (Peixoto et al., 2005).
Radar stealth techniques for ships can be implemented by
hiring a Naval Architect who is conversant with RCS
principles or including an RCS expert in the design team.
490
ICMT2012, 25-28 June 2012, Harbin
However, Naval Architect conversant with RCS techniques is
best suited since he is most flexible in optimizing shaping for
reducing RCS.
4 Conclusions
The academic setup to explore stealth ship technologies is
vital to facilitate defense industry in stealth applications. The
advantages are availability of professionals, faster
development of stealth ship applications and reduction
monetary cost. The classified nature of these technologies is
an issue which can be managed along practices of stealth
aircraft academia whereby specifics remain classified, yet
necessary academic setup exists. The practical ship RCS
reduction options are shaping and radar absorbing materials.
In current stealth ship design, shaping techniques are first
applied to create a design shape with low RCS in primary
threat sectors. Radar absorbing materials are then used to treat
remaining problem areas whose shape could not be optimized
to reduce RCS. Radar stealth techniques for ships can be
implemented by hiring a Naval Architect who is conversant
with RCS principles or including an RCS expert in the design
team. However, Naval Architect conversant with RCS
techniques is best suited since he is most flexible in
optimizing shaping for reducing RCS.
Acknowledgement

This work is financially supported by Program for New
Century Excellent Talents in University under Grant
No.NCET-07-0230 and the “111” Project under Grant
No.B07019 at Harbin Engineering University.
References
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(1992). Numerical modeling of impedance loaded multi-arm
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Jenn DC (2005). Radar and Laser Cross Section Engineering.
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Lin JL, Chen KM (1968). Minimization of backscattering of a loop
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Author(s)’s Biography
Jawad Khan was born in 1984. He is a student at Harbin
Engineering University. His current research interests include
stealth ships, high speed naval vessels, green ship, CFD,
renewable energy and advanced materials.

Wenyang Duan was born in 1967. He is a Professor and a

PhD supervisor at Harbin Engineering University. His current
research interests include wave-body interactions, especially
in Marine Hydrodynamics.

H. M. Rizwan Amir was born in 1985. He is a student at

Harbin Engineering University. His current research interests
include high speed naval vessels and stealth ships.

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