Stealth Technology
BY- RUSHIKESH KHADILKAR
What is stealth technology?
Stealth technology also termed LO technology (low observable
technology) is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive
electronic countermeasures, which cover a range of techniques used
with personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, missiles and satellites to
make them less visible (ideally invisible) to radar, infrared, sonar
and other detection methods.
It corresponds to military camouflage for these parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum (Multi-spectral camouflage).
The first stealth development program was initiated by USAF in
1960. (USAF-United States Air Force)
History
Development of modern stealth technologies in the United States began in 1958,
where earlier attempts in preventing radar tracking of its U-2 spy planes during
the Cold War by the Soviet Union had been unsuccessful.
Designers turned to develop a particular shape for planes that tended to reduce
detection, by redirecting electromagnetic waves from radars.
Radar-absorbent material was also tested and made to reduce or block radar
signals that reflect off from the surface of planes.
Such changes to shape and surface composition form stealth technology as
currently used on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit "Stealth Bomber".
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit "Stealth Bomber".
Design
The possibility of designing aircraft in such a manner as to reduce their radar
cross-section was recognized in the late 1930s, when the first radar tracking
systems were employed, and it has been known since at least the 1960s that
aircraft shape makes a significant difference in detectability.
The Avro Vulcan, a British bomber of the 1960s, had a remarkably small
appearance on radar despite its large size, and occasionally disappeared from
radar screens entirely.
It is now known that it had a stealthy shape apart from the vertical element of the
tail.
The Avro-Vulcan designed by the Royal Air Force.
Continued…
Despite being designed before a low radar cross-section (RCS), a Royal Aircraft
Establishment technical note of 1957 stated that of all the aircraft so far studied,
the Vulcan appeared by far the simplest radar echoing object, due to its shape:
only one or two components contributing significantly to the echo at any aspect,
compared with three or more on most other types.
While writing about radar systems, authors Simon Kingsley and Shaun Quegan
singled out the Vulcan's shape as acting to reduce the RCS.
In comparison the Russian Tupolev-95 (Named as ‘bear’) was conspicuous on
radar. Thus it was confirmed that propeller and turbine blades made a bright
image on the radar.
Continued…
Another important factor is its internal construction. Many aircrafts use a material which
is transparent to radar waves and internally reflect it thereby reducing energy.
The perfect stealth shape is the one which has no angles to reflect back radar waves.
Baffles are installed outside the engine to make it less visible to radar.
The cockpit canopy is coated with a thin film transparent conductor (vapor-deposited
gold or indium tin oxide) helps to reduce the aircraft's radar profile, because radar waves
would normally enter the cockpit, reflect off objects (the inside of a cockpit has a
complex shape, with a pilot helmet alone forming a sizeable return), and possibly return
to the radar, but the conductive coating creates a controlled shape that deflects the
incoming radar waves away from the radar. The coating is thin enough that it has no
adverse effect on pilot vision.
THE UNIQUE DESIGN OF THE STEALTH BOMBER WITH EDGES BENT AT AN
ANGLE WHICH CANNOT REFLECT RADAR WAVES.
Materials used
Non-metallic airframe:
The metal frame is coated with electrically conductive materials which do not
reflect radar waves. Ferrites are also added to the composition.
Radar-absorbing material:
The aircraft uses RAM which absorb the radar waves and convert it to heat.
Dielectric composites and metal fibres are used for this.
Paint consists of gaps filled with RAM.
Radar Stealth Counter-measures and limits
Low-frequency radar:
If the radar wavelength is roughly twice the size of the
target, a half-wave resonance effect can still generate a significant return.
Multiple emitters:
Emitters should be mounted separately from receivers.
Multiple emitters will help detect the stealth aircraft or ship.
Ship's wakes and spray:
When a ship moves through a seaway it throws up a cloud
of smoke which can be detected by radar.
Acoustics
Acoustics means study of sound.
Stealth aircrafts have low speed propellers to reduce sound.
Using varying degrees of spacing between the blades spreads the
noise or acoustic signature of the rotor over a greater range of
frequencies.
Visibility
The simplest technology is visual camouflage; the use of paint or
other materials to colour and break up the lines of the vehicle or
person.
Most stealth aircraft use matte paint and dark colours, and operate
only at night.
Mirrored surfaces can be employed to reflect views of empty space
toward known or suspected observers.
Infrared
An exhaust plume contributes a significant infrared signature.
One means to reduce IR signature is to have a non-circular tail pipe
(a slit shape) to minimize the exhaust cross-sectional volume and
maximize the mixing of hot exhaust with cool ambient air.
Often, cool air is deliberately injected into the exhaust flow to boost
this process.
According to the Stefan–Boltzmann law, this results in less energy
(Thermal radiation in infrared spectrum) being released and thus
reduces the heat signature.
Reduce radio-frequency radiations (RF)
In addition to reducing infrared and acoustic emissions, a stealth vehicle must
avoid radiating any other detectable energy, such as from on-board radars,
communications systems, or RF leakage from electronics enclosures.
The F-117 uses passive infrared and low light level television sensor systems to
aim its weapons and the F-22 Raptor has an advanced LPI radar which can
illuminate enemy aircraft without triggering a radar warning receiver response.
Continued…
Passive infrared means- sometimes a thermographic camera is used to form an
image using infrared radiations.
Low light level Television means a television which uses a camera sensitive to
wavelengths just above the normal visible range.
Measuring
The size of a target's image on radar is measured by the radar cross
section or RCS, often represented by the symbol σ and expressed in
square meters. This does not equal geometric area.
A perfectly conducting sphere of projected cross sectional area 1 m2
(i.e. a diameter of 1.13 m) will have an RCS of 1 m2.
Modern stealth aircraft are said to have an RCS comparable with
small birds or large insects, though this varies widely depending on
aircraft and radar.
Research
Negative index metamaterials are artificial structures for which
refractive index has a negative value for some frequency range.
Plasma stealth is a phenomenon proposed to use ionized gas (plasma) to
reduce RCS of vehicles.
Fluid injection is being researched for use in aircraft to control
direction.
In this, larger complex mechanical parts are replaced by smaller, simpler
fluidic systems, in which larger forces in fluids are diverted by smaller
jets or flows of fluid intermittently, to change the direction of vehicles.
Applications
This stealth technology is used in combat aircrafts.
They are also used in defence ships for various tactics in the enemy areas.
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