An erosion resistant coating for a substrate includes two or more coating layers affixed to the substrate having an increasing modulus of elasticity and hardness from an innermost layer of the coating adjacent to the substrate to an outermost layer of the coating furthest from the substrate. A method of applying a coating system to a substrate includes applying a first layer of a high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with an added metal to the substrate. A second layer of the high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with the added metal is applied to the first layer, resulting in a coating system wherein the second layer has a modulus of elasticity and hardness greater than the modulus of elasticity and hardness of the first layer.