[Thematic Review] Research Brief on the Development of the Composite Material Radome Industry

Chapter 1 Overview

1.1 Functional Role and Technical Positioning of Radomes in Radar Systems

A radome, literally meaning "radar dome", is a protective structural enclosure wrapping around a radar antenna. Essentially, it is a dual dielectric interface that integrates physical protection and electromagnetic functionality. In modern radar systems, the radome is a critical subsystem that directly impacts radar detection performance, system reliability, and battlefield survivability. According to reports from industry research institutions, the global radar market is projected to reach USD 70 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.3%. Meanwhile, the radome market is expected to hit USD 9.2 billion in the same year, boasting a CAGR of 10.8%. In terms of product types, non-spherical radomes account for over half of the market share, and airborne radomes are the primary source of demand. Major international players in this field include General Dynamics, Saint-Gobain, and Parker Meggitt.

Figure 1 Shipborne Radome

In terms of material types, fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites are the most widely used materials for radomes. These materials integrate structural support, thermal protection, and wave transmission capabilities, featuring excellent electrical properties. Traditional resins such as epoxy, phenolic, and unsaturated polyester resins are commonly used as matrix materials. In recent years, the application of high-performance resins like cyanate ester and polyimide resins has been on the rise. For reinforcing materials, glass fiber is the most prevalent, especially D-glass fiber, high-silica glass fiber, and S-glass fiber. Quartz fiber has seen rapid growth in applications in high-end military fields, though it comes with a high price tag. Aramid fiber and high-modulus polyethylene fiber also have certain applications. Notably, due to its high conductivity, carbon fiber cannot be directly used in the wave-transparent areas of radomes; it can only be applied for structural reinforcement or as a minor additive in functional coatings.

From a systems engineering perspective, a radome performs three core functions. First, it acts as a physical barrier, shielding the antenna from external environmental hazards such as wind, rain, sand, hail, bird strikes, salt spray, ultraviolet radiation, and extreme temperature variations. Second, it serves as an electromagnetic channel. As an indispensable path for radar electromagnetic wave transmission and reception, it must achieve high wave transmittance, low insertion loss, and low phase distortion within the operating frequency band. Third, in military scenarios, it provides tactical stealth capabilities. By optimizing the structural shape and adopting functional material designs, it reduces the radar cross-section (RCS), thereby enhancing the system's survivability in electronic countermeasure environments. Owing to these unique functions, the radome is vividly referred to as the "protective cover for the radar's eyes" — it must be transparent to electromagnetic waves, structurally robust, and stealthy with low detectability.

1.2 Inevitability and Evolution Logic of Composite Materials Replacing Metals

Compared with traditional metal materials, composite materials offer revolutionary core advantages for radome applications. Firstly, they possess superior electromagnetic transparency, which is the fundamental functional attribute of a radome. Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials have low attenuation characteristics for radio waves, ensuring unobstructed propagation of signals emitted by internal radar systems. Secondly, they deliver significant lightweight benefits. Composite materials, particularly carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), have a much lower density than traditional aerospace aluminum alloys while maintaining comparable strength and rigidity. In the aerospace sector, every gram of weight saved can directly translate into increased range, higher payload capacity, or reduced fuel consumption. Thirdly, they exhibit excellent corrosion resistance and environmental adaptability. Metal materials are prone to oxidation and corrosion in harsh environments like humidity and salt spray. In contrast, the polymer matrix and fibers in composite materials inherently have exceptional chemical stability, enabling them to effectively resist corrosion from the atmosphere, rainwater, bird droppings, and other natural elements. This greatly extends the service life and maintenance cycle of radomes. Additionally, composite materials offer high specific strength, high specific modulus, good design flexibility, and non-conductive, non-magnetic properties. These comprehensive advantages have made composite materials the preferred choice for modern radome design. Their applications have expanded beyond military aviation to cover commercial aviation, satellite communications, ground-based fixed radar stations, as well as emerging fields such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 5G communication infrastructure.

1.3 Development History and Core Advantages

The application of composite materials in radomes can be traced back to World War II. At that time, the Allied forces urgently needed to develop protective structures that could safeguard airborne radar antennas without hindering signal transmission. It was in this context that fiberglass was accidentally discovered to have unique wave-transparent properties and was quickly put into military use. A typical example from this period was the radome installed on the U.S. B-29 bomber. Early FRP radomes were mostly manufactured using the hand-layup molding process, with E-glass fiber cloth and phenolic or polyester resins as the main materials.

During the Cold War, the development of jet fighters and long-range early warning radars raised higher requirements for radomes, triggering the first major upgrade in material systems. This shift saw the transition from E-glass to S-glass (high-strength glass fiber), and the exploration of epoxy resins as a replacement for polyester resins. Meanwhile, the application of sandwich structures also gained momentum.

5.2 Development Opportunities in Emerging Fields

China's composite material ground radome industry is currently in a critical development stage, strongly driven by national strategies, fueled by both military and civilian market demands, and accelerating its technological catch-up. The military-civilian integration strategy has been elevated to a national strategy. The C919 large passenger aircraft project serves as a "flagship initiative" to drive the upgrading of China's domestic aviation industry chain. The 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of New Material Industry explicitly designates high-performance fibers and composite materials as key strategic materials, focusing on supporting the localization drive for high-strength and high-modulus carbon fiber, special epoxy/cyanate ester resins, and advanced honeycomb/foam core materials.

Military demand serves as the core driver for technological innovation, primarily stemming from three directions: the development of air power (early warning aircraft, stealth fighters); territorial air defense and missile early warning (large ground radar stations); and cutting-edge weapon systems (hypersonic vehicles). The civilian market forms the foundation for industrial scale expansion, characterized by diversification and rapid iteration. The nationwide S/C-band weather radar network constitutes the largest civilian market. The massive existing aircraft fleet generates stable aftermarket demand for the replacement and maintenance of airborne radomes. The large-scale construction of 5G base stations, especially millimeter-wave base stations, has spurred substantial demand for miniaturized, low-cost, and highly consistent radomes. In the wind power and transportation sectors, wind turbines require wind measurement radars, and traffic flow monitoring radars on expressways also extensively utilize composite material enclosures. Emerging fields such as seismic/geological exploration equipment, aerostats and near-space vehicles, and low-Earth orbit satellite ground stations are creating new incremental markets for composite material radomes.

In summary, China's market presents a sound development pattern where "military demand drives technological progress, civilian demand expands industrial scale, and emerging fields create new growth opportunities". Guided by national policies, the technological barriers between the military and civilian sectors are gradually being broken down, injecting strong vitality into the sustainable development of the entire industry. Starting from imitation, moving on to integrated catch-up, and now advancing towards independent innovation, China's composite material radome industry stands at a crucial historical juncture. Backed by a huge domestic demand market and firm policy support, it is well-positioned to secure a significant place in the global high-end manufacturing landscape.

Article Statement

1. Data Source Statement: All data contained in this article are derived from public online information, including but not limited to government websites, industry reports, and academic journals. They have been legally compiled and organized by the Industry Research Department of the Secretariat of the China Composite Materials Industry Association. The Association has conducted a preliminary review of the legality and compliance of the above data but assumes no legal liability for the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the data. In case the data involves third-party intellectual property rights or privacy information, the Association will handle it promptly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

2. Usage Restrictions and Liability Statement: This article is solely for non-profit learning, research, or exchange purposes among members of the Association and industry practitioners. Any form of use for third-party purposes or profitable activities, including but not limited to reproduction, dissemination, commercial use, and data crawling, is prohibited. Any entity or individual using the content of this article shall bear full legal responsibility for any consequences arising from improper use. The Association shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect joint liability. The content of this article shall not be used as the basis for judicial, administrative, or commercial decisions.

3. Data Security and Confidentiality Requirements: The full version of this article (approximately 24,000 words) has been uploaded to the Association's member system and is only available for download to verified member units. Member units must strictly comply with the following requirements:

1. Without the written permission of the Association, the content of this article shall not be used for commercial purposes or disclosed to third parties.

2. Necessary technical measures (such as data desensitization and access control) must be taken to ensure data security and prevent data leakage or misuse.

3. The full version shall also comply with the specifications mentioned in Clauses 1 and 2 above. The Association reserves the right to adjust data access rights at any time in accordance with legal, regulatory, or industry supervision requirements.

Translation Notes

1. Professional Terminology Precision: Terms such as "radar cross-section (RCS)", "insertion loss", "fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites", and "cyanate ester resin" are translated in line with international industry standards, ensuring accuracy and consistency in technical expression.

2. Institutional Name Standardization: Names like "China Composite Materials Industry Association", "Aviation Industry Jinan Special Structure Research Institute (637 Institute)", and "National Composite Materials Mobilization Center" adopt standardized English translations to maintain the formality and authority of institutional designations.

3. Chinese - Specific Expression Adaptation: Expressions such as "the protective cover for the radar's eyes" and "military demand drives technological progress, civilian demand expands industrial scale" are translated to convey their original meanings while conforming to the logical and linguistic norms of English formal texts.

4. Market Data Accuracy: Key market data, including market size forecasts and compound annual growth rates, are translated precisely to ensu