Advancing National Security Through Fundamental Research

A moth disappears against the bark of the tree on which it has landed. An octopus vanishes as its skin assumes the pattern and texture of its surroundings. That’s stealth of an ancient and biological kind. Military stealth, in the form of reducing the “signature,” or apparent presence, of assets like ships and planes, is way newer, but it has proven to be a transformative capability.

The history of such signature management goes back over 100 years, beginning with camouflage designs on warships and later on aircraft and submarines.