The combined effect is said to produce a very large reduction in reflected signal. By comparison, most stealth capabilities of US aircraft come from massively reduced radar cross sections. These are the result of a combination of carefully sculpted shapes, RAM and radar-absorbing paint. The main drawback to this approach is fairly low aircraft performance, due to the aerodynamic ramifications of the overall designs. Plasma technology, however, apparently would place little or no restriction on shape.
Energy consumption is said to be a few dozen kilowatts.
The report also suggests that a second-generation system could not only reduce reflected radar signals and change their wavelengths, but also generate some false signals to further confuse enemy radar operators. This technology may or may not exist. The tendency in this country is to dismiss out of hand the possibility of Russia having such advanced capabilities. That knowledge went unheeded by the Russians, while we scooped it up and ran for a touchdown. With Russia's strong desire to get ahead in the race for air superiority, it is highly unlikely that they will fumble like that again.