A Canadian technology company claims a significant breakthrough in camouflage technology, having developed a light-bending material that can render people and objects nearly invisible.
This technology, dubbed Quantum Stealth, could potentially revolutionize military defense strategies. HyperStealth’s CEO, Guy Cramer, discusses its practical applications with the EurAsian Times.
You might recall the Bollywood movie Mr. India, in which the character Arun Verma, a humble violinist and philanthropist, acquires a watch that acts as a cloaking device, granting him invisibility.
While such a device remains fictional, a similar technology is on the horizon—one that could potentially cloak not just individuals but also large military aircraft and assets when they are on the ground.
This technology, known as Quantum Stealth, is being developed by HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp, a Canadian company. It promises to camouflage significant military equipment from the enemy’s view.
Consider a recent example: when Ukraine was preparing to receive F-16 fighter jets from NATO countries, one of their biggest challenges was how to protect these jets from Russian spy drones while they were parked at Ukrainian bases.
To address this, Ukraine considered various countermeasures, including underground bunkers and dispersal of the jets, especially since Russian President Putin had threatened to target bases, even those outside Ukraine, that might be used to launch these F-16s. In this context, the concept of making military aircraft invisible to the adversary became crucial.
Guy Cramer, President and CEO of HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp, addressed this issue in a social media post, stating, “How do you hide essential military aircraft when they are parked on the ground and at their most vulnerable? You make them invisible to the adversary. ‘Hyperstealth’ does the same”
Cramer is the grandson of Canadian inventor Donald Hings, who created the handheld two-way radio transceiver, now known as the walkie-talkie, just before World War II. Hings held 56 patents. “He taught me for six years everything he knew, and then he kicked me out of the nest, and one of the big things was how to innovate,” Cramer has often shared in interviews.
Despite not holding a degree in engineering, Cramer believes that inspiration and innovation can come from anywhere.
Understanding Camouflage Technology
“You can’t use this to hide a jet in the air, as there needs to be a gap between the material and the target, as seen in the video,” Cramer explained to the EurAsian Times.
Both Ukraine and Russia have suffered major losses of aircraft from drone and missile attacks from guided missiles and drones while parked at their airfield.
Jamming has helped reduce this, but AI is now being built into these as an effective guidance system when jammed.
As… pic.twitter.com/ALc1rMZOSE
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) August 25, 2024
According to Cramer, “Both Ukraine and Russia have suffered major losses of aircraft from drone and missile attacks from guided missiles and drones while parked at their airfield. Jamming has helped reduce this, but AI is now being built into these as an effective guidance system when jammed. As the drone or missile nears the airfield, AI guidance takes over and scans for targets of high value and locks on. However, if the aircraft can’t be seen by those guidance systems in the visible spectrum, the infrared (night vision), or the thermal (heat) spectrum, then their chances of not being targeted directly improve significantly. It also helps mitigate drones, aircraft, and satellites from detecting them through surveillance prior to an attack where GPS coordinates may be used after they have been located”
According to HyperStealth, Quantum Stealth is a patented material that renders objects nearly invisible by bending light around them. It eliminates visual, infrared, and thermal signatures and reduces most of the object’s shadow. Unlike traditional camouflage, which is designed for specific environments like forests or deserts, this “invisibility cloak” works in any environment, season, or time of day.
Patented Technology
Hyperstealth has patented its few technologies in India, China, Japan, the United States, and South Africa, with approvals pending in Israel and the Philippines. There are also pending patents in over 50 other countries. A provisional patent is essential for securing intellectual property, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) allows companies to file patents in its 153 member countries.
Beyond military applications, the material can also enhance solar panel efficiency. HyperStealth has licensed its Solar Panel Amplifier technology to Good Solar PTY LTD. of Australia, covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, E-Consultancy of Türkiye is now the authorized representative for HyperStealth’s intellectual properties in Türkiye and Ukraine. 41-year-old Brigadier General Huseyin Erim, a retired Turkish Army officer with extensive NATO experience, leads E-Consultancy. E-consultancy will also represent Hyperstealth’s library of over 14,000 camouflage patterns for Türkiye and Ukraine.
Cost Factor
Discussing the cost factor with EurAsian Times, Cramer said, “We don’t yet know the final costs as manufacturing this specific configuration has never been attempted before. We currently only have prototypes, which are time-consuming to produce. Hiding a jet using this technology (as shown in the video) could eventually cost between $10,000 and $30,000 USD once manufacturing begins.”
When asked by EurAsian Times if there had been interest or orders from military or security organizations for this technology, Cramer responded, “Yes, we have received interest from several military and security groups, and we have provided numerous prototypes for them to experiment with.”
Cramer also highlighted the challenges. “The challenge for us is to keep the patent process financed as we filed the light bending in over 50 countries and have had it granted in South Africa and China and approved but not yet granted in Israel and the Philippines. There are still a lot of costs to be incurred on this technology and our other patents and patent applications for other technology. As all our finances are tied up in the patent process, we cannot finance the manufacturing, but we are in discussions with a few groups outside of North America that are interested in manufacturing and financing it themselves. ” Cramer added.
The Future of Invisibility
In an era where detection through various sensors is a key aspect of modern warfare, HyperStealth’s innovation addresses a critical need. By potentially making military assets invisible to enemy radar and other detection methods, this technology represents a significant leap forward in military defense.
As warfare continues to evolve, innovations like Quantum Stealth could play a crucial role in shaping future military strategies and defense capabilities.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for E.T. Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail (dot) com.
