A waffle structured composite for RCS reduction via absorption and scattering mechanisms

•The unique waffle structure realized the collaborative mechanisms of absorption and scattering towards electromagnetic waves.•The RCS reduction below −10 dB was achieved for WSC, and the peak reached to −30 dB.•The dielectric loss is the main cause of absorption for waffle structured composite.•The waffle structure formed by one-step knitting process facilitates the continuous large-scale manufacture.