The invention disclosed relates to an oxidized metal matrix composite coated substrate, comprising a substrate made of a material selected from the group consisting of a chromia-forming Fe, Ni and/or Co based alloy containing an amount of Cr ranging from 16 to 30 wt %, and an oxide-dispersion strengthened Cr-based alloy and a plain Cr-based alloy, and an oxidized metal matrix composite coating comprising at least two metals and reactive element oxide particles in the form of a tri-layer scale on the substrate surface comprising an inner chromia layer, an intermediate layer of a spinel solid solution formed by Cr and one or more of the deposited metals selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn and a mixture thereof, and an electrically conductive top layer comprising oxides of one or more deposited metals selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and a mixture thereof, which is substantially free from Cr ions, and wherein one or more of such layers contain particles of doped or undoped oxides of a rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, Y, La, Hf, Zr, Gd and a mixture thereof.