Stealth Aircraft

What are Stealth Aircrafts? Conventional aircraft reflect the radar signals incident on them. The reflected radar waves are absorbed by receivers, and hence the presence of the aircraft is detected by the radar systems easily. The Stealth Aircraft have been designed to avoid detection by radar and other systems. The design reduces the reflection (or) emission of signals in the radar, infrared, visible light spectrum and audio signals. This technology is known as Stealth Technology. Examples of Stealth Aircraft are the F 117 Nighthawk, F 22 Raptor, F 35 Lightning, and the B 2 Spirit. Why are Stealth Aircrafts needed? Stealth Aircrafts are essentially used for bombing

purposes. The general requirements for any bomber are: (I) A large weapons bay, to hold a large supply of bombs, and (II) low radar cross section (RCS) to slip through radars undetected and carry out bombings. The bomber aircrafts, unlike the fighter aircrafts, do not focus on the high maneuverability required for dogfights in mid air. Since a very high maneuverability is not required, the structure and the material composition of a bomber aircraft can be altered to achieve the low radar cross section. Since the maneuverability of the stealth aircraft is low, the stealth aircraft control is guided by the Fly By Wire System (FBW). This system replaces the conventional manual flight controls of the aircraft by electronic interface. Sometimes the

FBW system sends automatic signals to control specific actions of the aircraft even without the pilots input. How can Stealth be achieved? The phenomenon of stealth can be achieved by reducing the radar wave and thermal radiation emission from the aircraft. This is achieved by: i. ii. iii. iv. v. Reducing thermal emission from thrust. Altering the configuration of the aircraft to reduce radar detection. Reducing the radar and thermal detection when the weapons bay is opened. Reducing the infra red detection during adverse weather conditions. Most conventional aircraft have a rounded shape. It makes them aerodynamic, but it creates a very efficient radar reflector. A stealth aircraft is made of completely flat surfaces and sharp edges. This enables the radar signal to be reflected away from the receiver.

Normal Aircraft

Stealth Aircraft

What is Radar cross section? (RCS) Radar more which cross section with equal is a measure RCS as is a of a how detectable of RCS an the is

object is with radar. A larger RCS indicates that the object is detectable is nearly radar. to that property This low reflectivity of the object. A stealth aircraft has such low RCS bird. achieved by using absorbent paint and surfaces which scatter the radio waves away from the receivers. However, the RCS usually increases dramatically when a plane banks, as the angle of the surface of the plane changes, making it an efficient reflector.

What are radar absorbent materials? (RAMs) Radar absorbent materials are a class of materials used in stealth technology to reduce the RCS of an object. A common misunderstanding is that, the RAMs make an object totally invisible to radar. However, a RAM can only reduce the RCS of the object. The usage of RAM was first done by Germany during World War II. Types of RAM I. Iron ball paint absorber Used by Lockheed F 117 Nighthawk. Most commonly used type of RAM. Contains tiny spheres coated with Carbonyl Iron or Ferrite. Iron particles on the paint are obtained by the decomposition of Iron Pentacarbonyl. The radar waves induce alternating magnetic fields in the paint, which dissipate the energy in the form of heat.

II.

Foam absorber Used in the Lockheed F 117A Nighthawk. Consists of fireproofed urethane foam loaded with Carbon black in mixtures. The foam is cut into specifically calculated sized pyramids for specific wavelengths. These pyramids both scatter and absorb the incoming radar waves.

III. Jaumann absorber It is a resonant absorber. It is a multilayered radar absorbent device. Since it is a resonant absorber, the absorber must have all its layers parallel to each other and the ground. IV. Split ring resonator absorber Used in the Lockheed F 117A Nighthawk. These are still not in fully implemented in any of the aircraft. They are still in experimental stages.

Which country was the pioneer in developing the Stealth Aircraft technology?? What the disadvantages in using these Stealth aircraft?? Check it out in the next edition of my report on Stealth Aircraft, which is to be posted tomorrow!