2. What Is Stealth Technology? Scientifically known as low observatory Used in Military aviation Reduces detection range of an aircraft http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f117/images/nhawk11.jpg Similar to camouflage tactics used by soldiers Partial indivisibility to radar and other detection (“Stealth Technology”, 2008), (Kumar)
3. How Does Stealth Work? Uses the principle of reflection and absorption as well as redirection. Interferes with communication 2 structure surface designs of stealth aircrafts RAS, RAM (Kumar)
39. Special maintenance http://www.groovythemes.com/aviation/stealth_fighter-med.jpg (Sweetman)
40. History of Stealth Technology Invented by First caveman and leaves Soldiers and trees Submarines and waves, coatings Aircrafts and radar Cont. (Day, 2001)
41. History of Stealth Technology Applying Stealth Technology to airplanes in 1940’s Began designs in 1950’s 1970’s Mathematician developed Echo 1 1980’s-1990’s Computer availability of stealth techniques Cont. (Day, 2001)
42. History of Stealth Technology First Stealth Aircraft F-117 Lockheed Martin ATF Contest Fought for multi-billion contract JSF Competition Second World War used tin and aluminum Russia, India, China competitors http://www.wingweb.co.uk/wingweb/img/600-F-117A_Stealth_fighter_37th_Tonopah.jpg F-117 Stealth Fighters (Kumar)
43. F-117 Stealth Aircraft 5 were tested between 1981-1982 Squadron declared operational in 1983 Unveiled from top secrecy in 1989 Became famous in 1991 Persian Gulf War USA F-117 http://www.aviationspectator.com/files/images/F-117A-Nighthawk-stealth-fighter-70.jpg 1999 shot down by Russian missile Most famous stealth aircraft 59 built by Lockheed for Air Force (Day, 2001), (“Stealth Technology”, 2008)
44. References Day, D.A. (2001). Stealth aircraft. U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Retrieved from http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/Ste alth_aircraft/Tech3.htm Day, D.A. (2001). Stealth Technology. U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Retrieved from http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/Ste alth_aircraft/Tech18.htm Kumar, A.G. (n.d.). What is Stealth technology?. Total Air Dominance, Retrieved from http://totalairdominance.50megs.com/articles/stealth.htm Stealth Technology. (2008). The Columbia encyclopedia. Retrieved (2010, April 05) from http://encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-stealtht.html Sweetman, B. (n.d.). VI- Stealth Aircraft: Eagles Among Sparrows?. Fas.org. Retrieved (2010, April 06) from http://www.fas.org/spp/aircraft/part06.htm
Editor's Notes
My name is Heather Brooks and this is my power point presentation on the Research Internet Topic of Stealth Technology which involved with information systems and communication. Stealth technology and the depths of invisibility to radar detection.
The scientific name for stealth technology is low observatory, which incorporates several concepts into one technology. Stealth is nothing new, it has been used since caveman years with covering up in leaves, but it is now used in military aviation. Stealth does not always refer to just radar there are other forms of detections such as heat signatures.
Stealth is not the complete invisibility to radar, it only becomes partially invisible. It reduces the range of detection as well. Stealth uses the principles or reflection, absorption, and redirection.
The structure and angles of the aircraft are used to deflect the radar and redirect it away from the aircraft. The reflection is used just as a beam of life reflect off of a mirror, at certain angles more or less light is reflected. The aircraft that was first designed to you’re the RAS concept is the F-117 Night Hawk.
The concept of RAM is the absorption of the radar waves rather than the reflection. With RAM the angle of the surface it not so much the importance of the structure, but the material that the surface is made with. The material must be suitable to absorb radar waves. When the radar waves are successfully absorbed the radar systems detect this aircraft to only be the size of a bird in the sky. The material that is used to make these stealth aircrafts is completely top secret, but it is thought to be made of silicon based organic compound due to research. There is some information about what the stealth aircrafts such as the B-2 Stealth Bomber is not made out of, so there is an elimination of materials. The plane’s surface absorbs the waves and then is redirected elsewhere after it is absorbed.
Aircrafts give out high temperatures because of the exhaust, which gives an infrared signature for detection. Missiles that are also carried on the aircrafts after launched give out the same infrared temperature signature. This is a disadvantage for aircrafts, and in order to decrease detection the placement of the engine is crucial. Stealth aircrafts are built specifically to have low IR, but along with the concept of RAM this technology is top secret within the military aviation.
With the use of the concept of infrared the engines are placed deep within the aircraft. The aircrafts that this is done is in the B-2, F-22, and the JSF. The infrared concept used in other stealth aircrafts such as the F-117 is very different, which redirect the gas exhausts in a separate direction.
Plasma Stealth is also scientifically known as “Active Stealth technology”. This is a different and distinguished type of engine that was first used by the Russians, but was then later used by the American Deep Space. The stream of plasma is injected in the front of the aircraft, and while in flight covers the entire body of the aircraft. This stream makes the aircraft difficult to detect.
Some methods of avoiding detection has been used for years by pilots.
Even though technology development is increasing, so are the detection methods or the counter to these technologies. The triangulate location with a network of radar systems has already been used, when a F-117 was shot down in Yugoslavia. The method of microwaves is in the making by scientists.
Just like all other technologies, there are disadvantages to stealth technology. These stealth aircrafts are not made like conventional aircrafts so they do not move the same, nor do they fly the same. Stealth aircrafts carry weapons internally to avoid detection, and this causes small amounts of payload or area. The biggest disadvantage of all is the cost of the stealth aircrafts, as well as maintenance.
The costliest aircrafts in the world, include three stealth aircrafts that were developed by the USAF. The B-2 costs approximately $2 Billion, while the F-117 costs approximately $70 million and the F-22 costs around $100 million. It would be a positive step to be able to reduce prices and make stealth technology affordable.
As stated from Sweetman, sensors to locate targets pose a particular problem for stealth aircraft. The large radars used by conventional aircrafts would obviously comprise the position of a stealth aircraft. There is a concept available called FLIR that gives the stealth aircrafts the ability to aim at targets whose location is detectable, although this does not work when searching for targets or enemies in a wide ranged area. Other sensors and radars in stealth aircrafts are affected by bad weather. Due to the massive size of stealth aircrafts they are visible and easily detected visually from the range of 10 miles.
Stealth Technology is more than a technology it is a concept, and this concept is nothing new to some because it is tracked all the way back to the invention from cavemen, soldiers, and submarines.
American Air crafters began discussing the invention of Stealth Technology and airplanes/aircrafts back in the 1940’s. The technology grew through the decades and started to establish fame.
Stealth Aircraft began and to this day continues to be top secret projects. The first aircraft was designed in the United States but was soon followed by competitors and still is challenged by competitors using the same technology to create Stealth Aircrafts.
The F-117 was the first created Stealth Aircraft by Lockheed and has continued to be the most famous aircraft. There has been memorable history facts about the F-117 Stealth Aircraft.
The references listed were used to compile this power point slide show as well as the Internet topic research paper.
