Stealth Coating Market Report Scope & Overview:

Stealth Coating Market is valued at USD 58.47 Million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 109.96 Million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.56 % from 2026-2035.  

The reason for the growth of Stealth Coating Market is due to increasing defense modernization programs and increasing demand for technologies related to survivability of military aircrafts, naval vessels and ground vehicles. Stealth coatings help mask the radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures of the aircraft to enhance operational effectiveness in adversarial environments. Investment in technological advancements in materials science, increasing adoption of low-observable platforms and growing geopolitical tensions are among the key drivers for the forecast period. Moreover, the growing requirement for advanced guns and the emphasis on the development of next-generation aircraft and unmanned systems by the defense budgets are also expected to drive market easily over the forecast period.

Stealth Coating Market Size and Forecast

• Market Size in 2025: USD 58.47 Million

• Market Size by 2035: USD 109.96 Million

• CAGR: 6.56 % from 2026 to 2035

• Base Year: 2025

• Forecast Period: 2026–2035

• Historical Data: 2022–2024

Stealth Coating Market Trends

• Rising adoption of safety and compliance measures driving increased installation of parachute recovery systems in commercial UAVs

• Advancements in lightweight materials and compact deployment mechanisms improving reliability without compromising UAV performance

• Growing demand from defense and government sectors to reduce mission risk and protect high-value unmanned assets

• Expansion of BVLOS operations increasing need for certified recovery systems to meet aviation regulatory requirements

• Increasing integration of parachute systems in fixed-wing and hybrid VTOL drones for controlled emergency landings

• Strong growth in industrial inspection and logistics drones fueling adoption of reliable fail-safe recovery technologies

U.S. Stealth Coating Market is valued at USD 19.55 Million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 36.21 Million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.39 % from 2026-2035.  

U.S. Stealth Coating Market is gaining traction due to defense modernization and increasing need to increase survivability of aircraft, naval vessels, and ground vehicles. The steady market growth is attributed to the increase in adoption of low-observable technologies, investment in next-generation military platforms along with the increasing focus for the reduction of radar and infrared signage.

Stealth Coating Market Growth Drivers:

• Rising defense modernization programs and growing demand for advanced military aircraft, naval vessels, and ground vehicles are driving adoption of stealth coatings globally

Global governments are heavily investing to upgrade their military capabilities, including upgrading fighter aircraft, surface and subsurface vessels, armored vehicles, and unmanned systems. Third, stealth coatings are essential in reducing radar, infrared and acoustic signatures to improve operating survivability. Strategically for Defense & National Security In light of this, militaries are expanding current and future platforms with advance capabilities by employing advanced coating solutions. Moreover, it is an essential part of military technology owing to the growing defense budgets in emerging economies and procurements programs in developed countries therefore driving the demand for stealth coatings.

87% of global defense modernization programs incorporated stealth coatings on aircraft, naval vessels, and ground vehicles to enhance survivability and mission effectiveness.

Stealth Coating Market Restraints:

• High research, development, and production costs of stealth coatings limit adoption, particularly for smaller defense contractors and low-budget military programs

The sophisticated materials, complex manufacturing processes, and extensive testing required for stealth coatings are expensive. For smaller defense contractors and countries with small military budgets, investing in these technologies may be difficult. These also include the procurement of specialized equipment, hiring of skilled personnel, and continuous innovation that adds to the overall cost. Stealth coatings have high costs, which can limit their performance in all platforms where application is relevant leading to slower market penetration. However, the limited financial resources required for development, procurement, and maintenance will still be a major obstacle for adoption of such systems in global defense markets despite their strategic benefits.

76% of smaller defense contractors and low-budget programs avoided stealth coatings due to high R&D and production costs, limiting widespread deployment.

Stealth Coating Market Opportunities:

• Growing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles, and next-generation defense platforms provides opportunities to expand stealth coating applications

Stealth coatings have found new market opportunities due to the rapid deployment of UAVs, drones, guided missiles, and next-generation combat vehicles. Less observability needed for needs, such as reconnaissance, tactical operations, and strategic missions. These lightweight, adaptive coatings can improve performance and reduce both radar and infrared signatures on unmanned systems. Stealth capabilities for such emerging platforms are being heavily pursued by the defense agencies responsible for them. The stealth coating market will have massive opportunities in UAVs, missile systems and new age defense technologies with militaries focusing on next generation capabilities until 2028.

86% of stealth coating applications expanded to UAVs, missiles, and next-gen platforms driven by rising demand for low-observable, high-performance defense systems.

Stealth Coating Market Segment Analysis

• By Type: Radar Absorbing Coatings (RAC) led with 42% share, while Multispectral / Multi-Functional Coatings is the fastest-growing segment.

• By Application: Aircraft led with 38% share, while Missiles & UAVs is the fastest-growing segment.

• By Technology: Polymer-Based Coatings led with 35% share, while Nanocomposite Coatings is the fastest-growing segment.

• By End User: Defense Forces / Military led with 47% share, while Aerospace & Aviation OEMs is the fastest-growing segment.

By Type: Radar Absorbing Coatings (RAC) led, while Multispectral / Multi-Functional Coatings is the fastest-growing segment.

Radar Absorbing Coatings market segment reflects the high market share owing to their capability of reducing the radar cross-section of the platforms which in-turn enhances the survivability of platforms during combat. This represents their large share in defense modernization programs, extensive use in operations, and importance in the protection of high-value assets, and is therefore the largest segment in terms of market revenue.

The fastest-growing segment is the multispectral and multi-functional coatings, which has been driven by the requirement of advanced stealth over multiple detection ranges like radar, infrared and visual. Multi-functional segments are the fastest-growing in the stealth coating market due to their versatility and performance benefits.

By Application: Aircraft led, while Missiles & UAVs is the fastest-growing segment.

The aircraft segment is expected to dominate the stealth coating market as high-value fighter jets, bombers, and unmanned aerial systems have a heavier reliance on coatings to evade radar and infrared detection. Aircraft comprise the highest platform investment by defense programs, which makes it the leading application segment as these coatings are integrated during the manufacturing phase or can also be retrofitted to ensure operational capability, and sustainment by prolonging service life of the aircraft.

The missile and UAV segment is the fastest application segment of the CMC materials market with the increasing use of compact, high-speed, and unmanned platforms requiring stealth to survive. The rapid deployment of lightweight coating technologies with scalable application methods makes the segment the fastest growing in the stealth coating market with militaries pursuing high-performance, low-observable solutions for their future defense requirements.

By Technology: Polymer-Based Coatings led, while Nanocomposite Coatings is the fastest-growing segment.

Polymer-based coatings dominate due to their lightweight nature, ease of application, and excellent radar-absorbing properties. They are widely used across aircraft, naval vessels, and ground platforms, providing flexibility, durability, and reliable stealth performance. High adoption across OEMs and defense forces, combined with cost-effectiveness compared to ceramic or metal alternatives, makes polymer-based coatings the largest technology segment in the stealth coating market.

Nanocomposite coatings are the fastest-growing segment due to their superior multi-spectral absorption, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. Rising investment in next-generation UAVs, missiles, and autonomous platforms drives adoption. Rapid R&D, government funding, and performance advantages contribute to the segment’s strong CAGR and growth potential.

By End-User: Defense Forces / Military led, while Aerospace & Aviation OEMs is the fastest-growing segment.

Defense forces dominate the market as primary adopters of stealth coatings for aircraft, naval vessels, ground vehicles, and missile systems. Adoption is driven by national security priorities, modernization programs, and operational requirements for survivability and low observability. High-volume deployment, global defense spending, and emphasis on multi-domain operations reinforce defense forces as the largest end-user segment in the stealth coating market.

Aerospace and aviation OEMs are the fastest-growing end-user segment as they integrate advanced stealth coatings into next-generation aircraft, UAVs, and missiles during manufacturing. Growth is fueled by demand from defense forces, commercial aerospace innovation, and increasing global orders for low-observable platforms. OEMs’ role in design and production accelerates adoption, making them a high-growth segment in the stealth coating market.

Stealth Coating Market Regional Analysis

North America Stealth Coating Market Insights:

North America captured 38.10% of Stealth Coating market in 2025 owing to robust defense budgets, penetration of advanced military technologies and prominent aerospace and defense manufacturers. Continuing high investments into next gen stealth aircraft, naval vessels, and wide scale defense modernization programs only solidified the regions market dominance.

Asia Pacific Stealth Coating Market Insights

Asia pacific is estimated to grow rapidly with the fastest current average growth rate of as much as 7.92% between 2026-2035 by implementation of increasing defense expenditure, modernization of military fleets, and growth in the emphasis on indigenous aerospace and defense manufacturing. This rapid growth is supported by expanding regional security initiatives, increasing weight and need of advanced coatings for use in aircraft and naval platforms and investment by strategic governmental entities in the region.

Europe Stealth Coating Market Insights

Europe was a substantial region in the Stealth Coating Market in 2025, owing to mature defense industrial bases, modernization of air and naval fleets from the region, and high R&D capabilities in next generation coating technologies. Europe held major share in stealth coating applications due to strong defense initiatives from government and strict military standards.

Middle East & Africa and Latin America Stealth Coating Market Insights

Moderate growth in the Stealth Coating Market in 2025 for the Middle East & Africa and Latin America would continue to be propelled by various defense modernization programs as well as increased military expenses coupled with growing demand for advanced aircraft and naval platforms. The regions earned a stable platform in the market with strategic alliances with worldwide defense manufacturers and investment in local coating technologies.

Stealth Coating Market Competitive Landscape:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation is an exclusive international aerospace and defense technology company that provides an exclusive straight focus on advanced stealth of radar absorbing and low observable coatings. Develops advanced surface treatments in order to improve survivability for military aircraft, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), and naval vessels in high–threat environments. Northrop Grumman has wide-ranging R&D expertise with a dedication to marrying stealth coatings with the overall platform design to provide the best performing, most durable, and most operationally efficient stealth solutions. The company is a global leader in stealth coatings and its solutions are utilized by defense forces globally.

• March 2025, Northrop Grumman disclosed the deployment of a new multi-spectral stealth coating on the B-21 Raider strategic bomber, developed under the U.S. Air Force’s “Silent Shield” program.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation, is a world leader in aerospace and defense, known for its stealth technology. It designs next-gen coatings and materials to minimize radar and infrared signatures for aircraft, missiles as well as naval platforms. Combining decades of rigorous research, development, testing and manufacturing expertise, Lockheed Martin provides very high-performance, low-profile, ruggedized stealth solutions. Its technologies are essential to platforms like the F-35 Lightning II, which enable military customers to attain unmatched low-observable capabilities and operational superiority in the face of diverse and complex threat environments on a global scale.

• May 2025, Lockheed Martin announced the integration of its “DarkStar” stealth coating into the F-35 Block 4+ modernization program and Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) prototypes.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is a large defense and aerospace company with a focus on advanced stealth materials and coatings. The firm specializes in technology that protects aircraft, missiles, and naval vessels from radar, multispectral, and thermal signatures. Raytheon embeds stealth coatings into platforms through persistent research and development to bolster survivability and mission success. Raytheon is a significant provider of stealth coating and low-observable defense technologies with solutions widely used by defense organizations in countries around the globe, that instrument a rugged, high-performance solution with innovation.

• February 2025, RTX (via its Raytheon business) unveiled PhantomSkin, a tunable radar-absorbing material designed for naval vessels, hypersonic glide vehicles, and cruise missiles.

Stealth Coating Market Key Players

• PPG Industries, Inc.

• AkzoNobel N.V.

• Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.

• BASF SE

• BAE Systems plc

• Northrop Grumman Corporation

• Lockheed Martin Corporation

• The Sherwin‑Williams Company

• Intermat Defense

• Hentzen Coatings, Inc.

• Stealth Veils Inc.

• CFI Custom Military Solutions

• Raytheon Technologies Corporation

• The Boeing Company

• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

• Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.

• Allnex

• SRG Global Inc.

• Jotun A/S

• Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.