Overview
A modern military conspiracy theory suggests that China has achieved a breakthrough in "plasma stealth" technology. Unlike traditional stealth (angled hulls and radar-absorbent paint), plasma stealth involves creating a cloud of ionized gas (plasma) around a vessel to absorb or deflect radar waves.
The "Ghost Fleet" in the South China Sea
Rumors frequently surface in defense forums and "alternative" military blogs regarding U.S. Navy radar systems "glitching" or failing to track Chinese Type 055 destroyers during maneuvers. Proponents argue this is evidence of an active, cloaked fleet capable of appearing and disappearing at will.
Reality Check
While plasma stealth is a real area of physics research (pursued by the U.S., Russia, and China), the power requirements to maintain a stable plasma field around a large ship in a maritime environment are currently considered prohibitive. Most experts believe the sightings are either electronic warfare tests or standard radar misidentifications.