Technically, there is no such thing as a 'stealth' aircraft. This is a misnomer, and generally misunderstood by most people.
A radar 'sees' an aircraft or any flying object through the use of radio waves, or more accurately, the returns of the emitted electronic energy. It works in the same way as sonar and is derived from the bat (a flying mammal). While the bat is not entirely blind, it uses sound waves to track its prey (radar tracking), find its way around (navigation), and avoid crashing into obstacles.
The strength of the returning (or reflected) energy, determines whether the object is more readily detectable from a shorter distance or a longer distance. In aeronautical terms, this is called the RCS, or Radar Cross Section. In simplified terms, the higher the value of the RCS, the more visible it is to a radar.
The type of radar also determine if the aircraft is more visible at a certain distance. A Doppler radar can 'see' an aircraft better on its side configuration (left and right) while a Pulse radar 'sees' better on the forward and rear of an aircraft.
Similarly, the shape, design, and material type used on an aircraft plays a big role on its stealth rating as well. As a rule, sharp edges reflects less energy back towards the source of the emitter (radar) since it is dispersed widely towards various direction, making the returning energy weak, hence boosting the stealthiness of the aircraft.
2007-01-24 01:31:08
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answer #1
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answered by CuriousE 3
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I don't know of any fighters, but three tactical vehicles (bombing, spying) that I know of have really small radar profiles. These are the F117, the B2, and the SR71.
It's not impossible to catch these vehicles on radar because, in many cases, they do show up, they just show up like a bird or a private plane would and the radar operator doesn't see a threat.
Imagine that it would be possible to locate a hidden vehicle by attempting to look for it's silhouette against a mountain or the ground (assuming you're trying to find it from the air.)
2007-01-23 17:43:03
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answer #2
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answered by Jack Schitt 3
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All aircraft show up on radar the difference is the distance at which the radar picks up the plane. The B-2 and F-117 can get very close to the radar before it sees it. After them it's the F-22/F-35/B-1B. All the rest get picked up at normal ranges.
2007-01-24 05:15:28
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answer #3
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answered by brian L 6
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The F-22 Raptor is currently the only operational American stealth true fighter. Jack is correct in that the other stealth aircraft currently in the active inventory (F-117 and B2) are not true fighters. It is interesting that F-117 is designated a fighter as it is only armed with air-to-ground missiles and bombs; the Air Force has never explained this discrepancy. The F-117 is being retired over the next few years in favor of the superior F-22. More info provided in the links.
2007-01-23 17:52:49
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answer #4
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answered by RobertG 4
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The F-117 evening Hawk (stealth fighter) and the F-22 Raptor are fighter plane mentioned to be stealth warring parties. The B-2 is a bomber mentioned to be stealth. truthfully however, no longer something is surely invisible to radar. as an occasion, a guy or woman strolling on the tarmac of an airport will take place on ASDE (floor radar). RADAR is short for Radio Detection and various. those plane are made with textile that soak up radio waves and shaped to deflect radio waves, yet on the radar scope they nevertheless take place. Granted, they take place on the scope by way of fact the dimensions of say an excellent poultry. on the same time as no longer thoroughly invisible the only thank you to locate them is to music the scope to its maximum gentle placing and in case you spot some thing that appears like a poultry zooming in at 500 miles an hour, there ya circulate. A missle in all probability isn't waiting to fasten directly to them, yet you will see them in case you recognize they are coming. you won't be able to constantly have your scope tuned to be that gentle however by way of fact at that time it is going to p.c.. up vehicles using via the antenna website, ravens, trees and so on which may make issues somewhat puzzling.
2016-12-16 12:13:15
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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The F-117 is invisible to radar, but not all the time. If it turns in from of radar it will paint a picture (show up), but probably not long enough to get a fix on it.
2007-01-23 17:40:50
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answer #6
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answered by gyro-nut64 3
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Stealth
2007-01-23 17:34:55
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answer #7
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answered by gotspeed7883 3
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A special type of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)...
that is, the Multi-role Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle...
OR, the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). there are a few versions, my most favourite was the EADS Barracuda (a.k.a. Barrakuda). basically due to its design. too bad the program was terminated due to a failure :(
2007-01-25 00:18:20
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answer #8
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answered by urbanvigilante 3
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the b2 is an american jet so i don't think you're talking about that one. not sure which jet cannot be picked up on american radar, sorry.
2007-01-23 23:03:04
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answer #9
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answered by FreakGirl 5
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our current, so called stealth assets have been detected and detectable. china using the old s-band sensor pattern picked up several of our assets warming up in texas. the australians and united kingdom also detected our asset. you'll be surprised with what old sensor arrays can still do.
2007-01-23 20:20:18
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answer #10
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answered by A M 1
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