Hanwha develops cutting-edge stealth paint for next-generation warships

Hanwha Ocean Co., a leading South Korean warship builder, has developed and tested an advanced stealth paint designed for the country’s KDDX next-generation destroyer project.

The stealth paint is engineered to reduce infrared radar detectability by reflecting over 80% of near-infrared light, a significant improvement of more than 60% over conventional coatings, the company said on Monday.

By mitigating heat absorption, the coating can lower a vessel’s surface temperature by about 40%, it said.

The heat reduction decreases the likelihood of detection and makes warships appear smaller on infrared radar, resembling fishing boats or ferries rather than military vessels. As a result, the risk of attack from infrared-guided missiles is significantly reduced, according to the defense firm.

Hanwha Ocean said it developed the paint using polysiloxane resin, a high-performance polymer known for its resistance to heat, salt and acid. The material offers superior durability against waves and sea spray compared to conventional coatings applied to naval vessels.

RACE FOR STEALTH WARSHIPS

Global navies increasingly prioritize stealth capabilities to enhance their fleets’ survivability and combat effectiveness.

The US Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers feature extensive stealth technology, including stealth paint and a structure designed to minimize radar cross-section.

Despite being 40% larger than previous Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Zumwalt-class warships have a radar signature that is only one-fiftieth as large.

According to market research firm Spherical Insights, the global stealth paint market is forecast to expand to $67.6 million by 2030 from $45 million in 2023, driven by rising demand for stealth technologies across defense sectors.

Hanwha Ocean intends to apply its newly developed stealth paint to the next-generation warships if it secures contracts for the KDDX program.

Korea’s Navy and the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plan to construct six next-generation destroyers by 2036 at an estimated cost of 7.8 trillion won ($5.4 billion).

“Our stealth paint is a cutting-edge technology that will be widely adopted in next-generation warships,” said a Hanwha Ocean official. “We will continue enhancing our competitiveness in naval defense procurement based on these innovations.”

JOINT BIDS FOR HIGH-STAKES WARSHIP DEALS

Last month, Hanwha and its crosstown rival, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co, agreed to jointly pursue high-stakes international warship construction deals.

Their partnership will begin with their joint bid on a 70 trillion won Canadian project to build 12 units of 3,000-ton diesel submarines.

Hanwha Ocean has been the only supplier of submarines for the Korean Navy since 1987.

Subsequently, Hanwha and HD Hyundai Heavy, with its strength in surface warships, are expected to jointly bid for a Polish submarine project worth 8 trillion won and a 2 trillion won Philippine submarine project.

Write to Jin-Won Kim at Jin1@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.