Abstract
This chapter investigates the disruptive potential of metamaterials, synthetic nano-structured materials, which possess special physical properties that enable the user to be invisible and to evade detection. The security applications of metamaterials are to camouflage personnel, vehicles, ships, or planes from some portion of the infrared spectrum. Metamaterials have a high refractive index meaning that light ‘flows around’ the material rather than reflecting off. Successful implementation of metamaterial adaptive camouflage (MMAC) would be a paradigm shift in camouflage and anti-detection technology that could cause significant disruptions to conflict dynamics. This chapter investigates the role of metamaterials by placing it in the broader historical context of detection and anti-detection technology. By tracing the co-development of both sides of the detection arms race, a theoretical framework can be constructed. This analysis pays special attention to radar and stealth aircraft in the post WWII era. It explores concepts like deterrence, the offense defense balance, and the security dilemma. The conclusion is that anti-detection, or camouflage, technologies are generally detrimental to the international peace and detection technologies are beneficial. Metamaterials are a threat to the global status quo and are therefore a threat to the power of global and regional hegemons. Revisionist actors, primarily non-state actors, likely will benefit disproportionately from acquiring a MMAC capability but will struggle to do so due to the technical challenge of advanced R&D, particularly in the near and mid-term. The implication is that status quo powers—whom are likely to be the first to develop a viable capability—must emphasize parallel development of countermeasures and limit the negative potential of the technology’s proliferation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
McMaster HR Jr (2016) Maintaining overmatch: the future of combat vehicle modernization. Association of the United States (AUSA) Institute of Land Warfare Hot Topic: Army Ground Combat Platforms Army, 1 Nov 2016. https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic-army-platforms/sessions/keynote
Kosal ME (2016) Future operational environment and movement and maneuver: disruptive technology for mobility, protection, and firepower. Association of the United States (AUSA) Institute of Land Warfare Hot Topic: Army Ground Combat Platforms Army, 1 Nov 2016, Arlington, VA. https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic-army-platforms/sessions/panel-discussion-1
Kosal ME (2018) Emerging chemical and biological technologies: security & policy challenges. In: Tetris C et al (eds) Responsible conduct in chemistry research and practice: global perspectives. Oxford University Press, pp 51–68
Zheludev NI (2010) The road ahead for metamaterials. Science 328(5978):582–583
Shang L, Zhang W, Ke X, Zhao Y (2019) Bio-inspired intelligent structural color materials. Mater Horiz 6(5):945–958
Kosal ME (2009) Nanotechnology for chemical and biological defense. Springer Academic Publishers, New York
Alitalo P, Tretyakov S (2009) Electromagnetic cloaking with metamaterials. Mater Today 12:22–29
Chen H, Chan CT, Sheng P (2010) Transformation optics and metamaterials. Nat Mater 9:387–396
Han T et al (2014) Full control and manipulation of heat signatures: cloaking, camouflage and thermal metamaterials. Adv Mater 26:1721–1734
Bilotti F, Tretyakov S (2013) Amorphous metamaterials and potential nanophotonics applications. In: Rockstuhl C, Scharf T (eds) Amorphous nanophotonics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 39–66
Di Falco A, Ploschner M, Krauss TF (2010) Flexible metamaterials at visible wavelengths. New J Phys 12:11306–11313
Rogers JA, Someya T, Huang Y (2010) Materials and mechanics for stretchable electronics. Science 327:1603–1607
Armstrong S (2012) Biophotonics: photonic crystals aid fish’s night vision. Nat Photonics 6:575
Wang N, Zhao Y, Jiang L (2010) Bioinspired synthesis and preparation of multilevel micro/nanostructured materials. Front Chem China 5:247–261
Stuart-Fox D, Moussalli A (2009) Camouflage, communication and thermoregulation: lessons from colour changing organisms. Philos Trans R Soc B 364(1516):463–470
Greenleaf A, Kurylev Y, Lassas M, Uhlmann G (2009) Cloaking devices, electromagnetic wormholes, and transformation optics. SIAM Rev 51(1):3–33
Aranovich VM et al (2004) Linear and nonlinear wave propagation in negative refraction metamaterials. Phys Rev B 69:165112
Veselago VG (1968) The electrodynamics of substances with simultaneously negative values of ε and μ. Sov Phys Usp 10:509–514. https://ufn.ru/ru/articles/1967/7/d/
Pendry JB, Schurig D, Smith DR (2006) Controlling electromagnetic fields. Science 312(5781):1780–1782
Gabrielli LH, Cardenas J, Poitras CB, Lipson M (2009) Silicon nanostructure cloak operating at optical frequencies. Nat Photonics 3(8):461–463
Smolyaninov II, Smolyaninova VN, Kildishev AV, Shalaev VM (2009) Anisotropic metamaterials emulated by tapered waveguides: application to optical cloaking. Phys Rev Lett 102:213901
Lee JH, Blair J, Tamma VA, Wu Q, Rhee SJ, Summers CJ, Park W (2009) Direct visualization of optical frequency invisibility cloak based on silicon nanorod array. Opt Express 17(15):12922–12928
Valentine J, Li J, Zentgraf T, Bartal G, Zhang X (2009) An optical cloak made of dielectrics. Nat Mater 8(7):568–571
Ergin T, Stenger N, Brenner P, Pendry JB, Wegener M (2010) Three-dimensional invisibility cloak at optical wavelengths. Science 328(5976):337–339
Ni X, Wong ZJ, Mrejen M, Wang Y, Zhang X (2015) An ultrathin invisibility skin cloak for visible light. Science 349(6254):1310–1314
Xu Y et al (2018) Light–matter interaction within extreme dimensions: from nanomanufacturing to applications. Adv Opt Mater 6(18):1800444
Xu C, Stiubianu GT, Gorodetsky AA (2018) Adaptive infrared-reflecting systems inspired by cephalopod. Science 359(6383):1495–1500
ADAPTIV—Cloak of Invisibility (2019) BAE Systems PLC. http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/feature/adativ-cloak-of-invisibility
Merritt R (2013) Do-it-yourself invisibility with 3-D printing. Center for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics Newsletter, 6 May 2013. http://metamaterials.duke.edu/news/do-it-yourself-invisibility-3-d-printing
Technology 2019. Metamaterials Commercialization Center. http://www.metamaterialscenter.com/applications/imaging/
Schittny R, Kadic M, Bückmann T, Wegener M (2014) Invisibility cloaking in a diffusive light scattering medium. Science 345(6195):427–429
Smith DR (2014) A cloaking coating for murky media. Science 345(6195):384–385
Nye JS (1990) Soft power. Foreign Policy 80:153–171
Tang Shiping (2009) The security dilemma: a conceptual analysis. Secur Stud 18(3):587–623
Mearsheimer JJ (2001) The tragedy of great power politics. Norton, New York
Jervis R (1978) Cooperation under the security dilemma. World Polit 30(2):167–214
von Clausewitz C (1832) On war
Goldstein A (2000) Deterrence and security in the 21st century. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif
Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (1972) US Department of State, Other Releases, Bureau of Arms Control, 26 May 1972. https://www.state.gov/t/isn/trty/16332.htm
Defense Science Board (2007) 21st century strategic technology vectors, vol I, main report. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Washington, D.C., Feb 2007. https://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2000s/ADA463361.pdf
Maxwell JC (1865) A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field. Phil Trans R Soc Lond 155:459–512
Hertz H (1887) On electromagnetic effects produced by electrical disturbances in insulators
Bauer AO (no date) Christian Hülsmeyer and about the early days of radar inventions. Foundation Centre for German Communications and Related Technologies. http://aobauer.home.xs4all.nl/Huelspart1def.pdf
Page RM (1962) The early history of radar. Proc IRE 50(5):1232–1236
Skolnik MI (1985) Fifty years of radar. Proc IEEE 73(2):182–197
Allison DK (1981) New eye for the navy: the origin of radar at the Naval Research Laboratory. NRL report S466, Sept 1981. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a110586.pdf (See also “Development of the Radar Principle” U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. https://www.nrl.navy.mil/accomplishments/systems/radar/)
Latham C, Stobbs A (2006) The birth of British radar: the memoirs of Arnold ‘Skip’ Wilkins. Speedwell, Birmingham
Baldwin S (1932) “International Affairs” Speech in house of commons, UK Parliament, 10 Nov 1932, vol 270, pp 525–564. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1932/nov/10/international-affairs
Clark GC (1997) Deflating British radar myths of world war II. Air Command and Staff College. https://fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/docs/97-0609F.pdf
Stone M, Banner GP (2000) Radars for the detection and tracking of ballistic missiles, satellites, and planets. Linc Lab J 12(2). https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/477d/7311053bd57e12d74355548c83e770420ad6.pdf
Pedlow GW, Welzenbach DE (1998) The CIA and the U-2 program, 1954–1974. History Staff, Center for the Study of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, 1998. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/the-cia-and-the-u-2-program-1954-1974/u2.pdf
The U-2’s Intended Successor: Project OXCART, 1956–1968. The National Security Archive. http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB434/docs/U2%20-%20Chapter%206.pdf
OXCART vs Blackbird: do you know the difference? Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2015-featured-story-archive/oxcart-vs-blackbird.html. Accessed 18 Nov 2015
Roblin S (2016) The SR-71 blackbird: the super spy plane that outran missiles. Natl Interes. http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-sr-71-blackbird-the-super-spy-plane-outran-missiles-18142
Majumdar D (2015) The ultimate comeback: should the lethal F-117 stealth fighter fly again? Natl Interes. http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-ultimate-comeback-should-the-lethal-f-117-stealth-14180
Operation Desert Storm: Evaluation of the Air Campaign. NSIAD-97-134, United States Government Accountability Office, 12 June 1997. https://www.gao.gov/products/NSIAD-97-134
The F-35 Lightning II (2017) The Joint Strike Fighter Program. http://www.jsf.mil/
Billings L (2015) War in space may be closer than ever. Sci Am. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/war-in-space-may-be-closer-than-ever/
Using clever technology to keep enemies at bay. The Economist (UK). https://www.economist.com/special-report/2018/01/25/using-clever-technology-to-keep-enemies-at-bay
Jeong-ho L (2019) China releases footage of ‘Guam killer’ DF-26 ballistic missile in ‘clear message to the US. South China Morning Press. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/2183972/china-releases-footage-guam-killer-df-26-ballistic-missile-clear
Krepinevich AF, Watts B (2003) Meeting the anti-access and area-denial challenge. Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), Washington, D.C., 20 May 2003. https://csbaonline.org/research/publications/a2ad-anti-access-area-denial
Iranian naval forces: a tale of two navies. Office of Naval Intelligence, Feb 2017. https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/iran/Iran%20022217SP.pdf
Egozi A (2019) Iranian missile misfires as other attacks hit home. Break Def. https://breakingdefense.com/2019/06/iranian-missile-misfires-as-other-attacks-hit-home/
Iran’s naval forces: from Guerilla warfare to modern naval strategy. Report from the Office of Naval Intelligence, Washington DC, Feb 2009. http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/oni/iran-navy.pdf
Singh A (2010) Dark chill in the Persian Gulf—Iran’s conventional and unconventional naval forces. Marit Aff J Natl Marit Found India 6:108–132
Millennium Challenge 02 (2002) United States Joint Forces Command. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928005405/. http://www.jfcom.mil/about/experiments/mc02.htm
Keck Z (2015) America’s master plan to crush Iranian warships. Natl Interes. http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/americas-master-plan-crush-iranian-warships-13602
Young A, Barker D, Owens W (2012) Methods and systems for optical focusing using negative index metamaterial. US Patent 8180213 B2, May 2012
Finklea KM (2013) Organized crime: an evolving challenge for U.S. law enforcement. Congressional Research Service, Report No. R41547. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41547.html
International Labor Organization (2012) New ILO global estimate of forced labour: 20.9 million victims. http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_182109/lang--en/index.htm
Drug Trafficking (2019) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/
Nixon R (2017) Coast guard faces challenges at sea, and at the budget office. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/04/us/politics/coast-guard-faces-challenges-at-sea-and-at-the-budget-office.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kosal, M.E., Stayton, J.W. (2020). Meta-materials: Threat to the Global Status Quo?. In: Kosal, M. (eds) Disruptive and Game Changing Technologies in Modern Warfare. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28342-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28342-1_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28341-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28342-1
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)