What is a typical characteristic of radar-absorbing materials?

Radar-absorbing materials are specifically designed to reduce the radar cross-section of an object, making it less detectable to radar systems. The primary function of these materials is to absorb radar waves rather than reflect them. This absorption minimizes the amount of radar energy that bounces back to the radar source, effectively concealing the object from detection.

The characteristic of absorbing radar waves is crucial in applications such as stealth technology for aircraft, where being less visible to radar is essential for mission success and enhanced survivability in hostile environments. This is why the chosen answer accurately represents the fundamental purpose and utility of radar-absorbing materials in low observable aircraft structural maintenance.