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UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, question 43

Topic: Science and technology

Q43

Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct ?

  1. Stealth objects have a very small radar cross-section and are coated with Radar Absorbing Material.

  2. Stealth objects can be detected using specific frequencies.

  3. Stealth objects are coated with metamaterials to increase the scattering of electromagnetic radiation.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. (a) 1 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 2 onlyCorrect answer
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution.

Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

  1. Statement 1 is correct: stealth platforms combine airframe shaping and Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) to minimize their Radar Cross-Section (RCS) by deflecting and absorbing incident radar waves.
  2. Statement 2 is correct: stealth shaping and RAM are optimized against high-frequency fire-control radars (X and Ku bands), so lower-frequency (VHF/UHF) radars can still detect stealth aircraft via resonance effects.
  3. Statement 3 is incorrect: stealth metamaterial coatings are engineered to absorb electromagnetic radiation or guide waves around the object to suppress back-scattering, not to increase scattering.