INTRODUCTION

Stealth technology also termed LO technology (low observable technology)

is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive electronic countermeasures,[1]
which cover a range of techniques used with personnel, aircraft, ships,
submarines, and missiles, to make them less visible (ideally invisible) to radar,
infrared,[2] sonar and other detection methods.

Development in the United States occurred in 1958,[3][4] where earlier attempts

in preventing radar tracking of its U-2 spy planes during the Cold War by the
Soviet Union had been unsuccessful.[5] Designers turned to develop a particular
shape for planes that tended to reduce detection, by redirecting electromagnetic
waves from radars.[6] 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".[4] The concept of
stealth is to operate or hide without giving enemy forces any indications as to
the presence of friendly forces. This concept was first explored through
camouflage by blending into the background visual clutter. As the potency of
detection and interception technologies (radar, IRST, surface-to-air missiles
etc.) have increased over time, so too has the extent to which the design and
operation of military personnel and vehicles have been affected in response.
Some military uniforms are treated with chemicals to reduce their infrared
signature. A modern "stealth" vehicle will generally have been designed from
the outset to have reduced or controlled signature. Varying degrees of stealth
can be achieved. The exact level and nature of stealth embodied in a particular
design is determined by the prediction of likely threat capabilities.
HISTORY

In England, irregular units of gamekeepers in the 17th century were the first to adopt drab
colours (common in the 16th century Irish units) as a form of camouflage, following
examples from the continent.

Yehudi lights were successfully employed in World War II by RAF Shorts Sunderland
aircraft in attacks on U-boats. In 1945 a Grumman Avenger with Yehudi lights got within
3,000 yards (2,700 m) of a ship before being sighted. This ability was rendered obsolete by
the radar of the time.

One of the earliest stealth aircraft seems to have been the Horten Ho 229 flying wing. It
included carbon powder in the glue to absorb radio waves.[7] Some prototypes were built, but
it was never used in action.

In 1958, the CIA requested funding for a reconnaissance aircraft, to replace U-2 spy planes[8]
in which Lockheed secured contractual rights to produce the aircraft.[3] "Kelly" Johnson and
his team at Lockheed's Skunk Works were assigned to produce the A-12 or OXCART the
first of the former top secret classified Blackbird series which operated at high altitude of
70,000 to 80,000 ft and speed of Mach 3.2 to avoid radar detection. Radar absorbent material
had already been introduced on U-2 spy planes, and various plane shapes had been developed
in earlier prototypes named A1 to A11 to reduce its detection from radar.[4] Later in 1964,
using prior models, an optimal plane shape taking into account compactness was developed
where another "Blackbird", the SR-71, was produced, surpassing prior models in both
altitude of 90,000 ft and speed of Mach 3.3.[4]

During 1970s, the U.S. Department of Defence then launched a project called Have Blue the
project to develop a stealth fighter. Bidding between both Lockheed and Northrop for the
tender was fierce to secure the multi-billion dollar contract. Lockheed incorporated in its
program paper written by a Soviet/Russian physicist Pyotr Ufimtsev in 1962 titled Method of
Edge Waves in the Physical Theory of Diffraction, Soviet Radio, Moscow, 1962. In 1971 this
book was translated into English with the same title by U.S. Air Force, Foreign Technology
Division (National Air Intelligence Center ), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1971. Technical
Report AD 733203, Defense Technical Information Center of USA, Cameron Station,
Alexandria, VA, 22304-6145, USA. This theory played a critical role in the design of
American stealth-aircraft F-117 and B-2.[9][10][11] The paper was able to find whether a plane's
shape design would minimise its detection by radar or its radar cross-section (RCS) using a
series of equations[12] could be used to evaluate the radar cross section of any shape.
Lockheed used it to design a shape they called the Hopeless Diamond, securing contractual
rights to mass produce the F-117 Nighthawk.

The F-117 project began with a model called "The Hopeless Diamond" (a wordplay on the
Hope Diamond) in 1975 due to its bizarre appearance. In 1977 Lockheed produced two 60%
scale models under the Have Blue contract. The Have Blue program was a stealth technology
demonstrator that lasted from 1976 to 1979. The success of Have Blue lead the Air Force to
create the Senior Trend[13][14] program which developed the F-117.

[edit]
What is Stealth Technolog?

Stealth or low observability (as it is scientifically known) is one of the most

misunderstood and misinterpreted concepts in military aviation by the common
man. Stealth aircraft are considered as invisible aircraft, which dominate the
skies. With an additional boost from Hollywood action movies, stealth is today
termed as the concept invincibility rather than invisibility. Though, the debate
still continues on whether stealth technology can make an aircraft invincible it
was found that stealth aircraft are detectable by radar.

The motive behind incorporating stealth technology in an aircraft is not just to

avoid missiles being fired at is but also to give total deniability to covert
operations. This is very much useful to strike targets where it is impossible to
reach. Thus we can clearly say that the job of a stealth aircraft pilot is not to let
others know that he was ever there.
What is Stealth?

In simple terms, stealth technology allows an aircraft to be partially invisible to

Radar or any other means of detection. This doesn't allow the aircraft to be fully
invisible on radar. Stealth technology cannot make the aircraft invisible to
enemy or friendly radar. All it can do is to reduce the detection range or an
aircraft. This is similar to the camouflage tactics used by soldiers in jungle
warfare. Unless the soldier comes near you, you can't see him. Though this
gives a clear and safe striking distance for the aircraft, there is still a threat from
radar systems, which can detect stealth aircraft.

The Russian 1R13 radar system is very much capable of detecting the F-117
"Night Hawk" stealth fighter. There are also some other radar systems made in
other countries, which are capable of detecting the F-117.
During[Link] the Gulf war the Iraqis were
able to detect the F-117 but failed to eliminate its threat because of lack of
coordination. The most unforgettable incident involving the detection and
elimination of a stealth aircraft was during the NATO air-war over Yugoslavia.
This was done by a Russian built "not so advanced" SAM (possibly the SA-3 or
SA-6). The SAM system presumably used optical detection for target
acquisition in the case.
How does Stealth technology work?

The concept behind the stealth technology is very simple. As a matter of fact it
is totally the principle of reflection and absorption that makes aircraft "stealthy".
Deflecting the incoming radar waves into another direction and thus reducing
the number of waves does this, which returns to the radar. Another concept that
is followed is to absorb the incoming radar waves totally and to redirect the
absorbed electromagnetic energy in another direction. What ever may be the
method used, the level of stealth an aircraft can achieve depends totally on the
design and the substance with which it is made of.

RAS

RAS or Radar absorbent surfaces are the surfaces on the aircraft, which can
deflect the incoming radar waves and reduce the detection range. RAS works
due to the angles at which the structures on the aircraft's fuselage or the fuselage
itself are placed. These structures can be anything from wings to a refueling
boom on the aircraft. The extensive use of RAS is clearly visible in the F-117
"Night Hawk". Due to the facets (as they are called) on the fuselage, most of the
incoming radar waves are reflected to another direction. Due to these facets on
the fuselage, the F-117 is a very unstable aircraft.

The concept behind the RAS is that of reflecting a light beam from a torch with
a mirror. The angle at which the reflection takes place is also more important.
When we consider a mirror being rotated from 0o to 90o, the amount of light
that is reflected in the direction of the light beam is more. At 90o, maximum
amount of light that is reflected back to same direction as the light beam's
source. On the other hand when the mirror is tilted above 90o and as it proceeds
to 180o, the amount of light reflected in the same direction decreases
drastically. This makes the aircraft like F-117 stealthy.

RAM

Radar absorbent surfaces absorb the incoming radar waves rather than
deflecting it in another direction. RAS totally depends on the material with
which the surface of the aircraft is made. Though the composition of this
material is a top secret. The F-117 extensively uses RAM to reduce its radar
signature or its radar cross section.

The RAS is believed to be silicon based inorganic compound. This is assumed

by the information that the RAM coating on the B-2 is not
waterp[Link] This is just a supposition
and may not be true. What we know is that the RAM coating over the B-2 is
placed like wrapping a cloth over the plane. When radar sends a beam in the
direction of the B-2, the radar waves are absorbed by the plane's surface and is
redirected to another direction after it is absorbed. This reduces the radar
signature of the aircraft.

IR

Another important factor that influences the stealth capability of an aircraft is

the IR (infrared) signature given out by the plane. Usually planes are visible in
thermal imaging systems because of the high temperature exhaust they give out.
This is a great disadvantage to stealth aircraft as missiles also have IR guidance
system. The IR signatures of stealth aircraft are minute when compared to the
signature of a conventional fighter or any other military aircraft.

If reducing the radar signature of an aircraft is tough, then reducing the IR

signature of the aircraft is tougher. It will be like flying a plane with no engines.
The reduced IR signature totally depends on the engine and where the engine is
placed in an aircraft.

Engines for stealth aircraft are specifically built to have a very low IR signature.
The technology behind this is top secret like others in stealth aircraft. Another
main aspect that reduces the IR signature of a stealth aircraft is to place the
engines deep into the fuselage. This is done in stealth aircraft like the B-2, F-22
and the JSF. The IR reduction scheme used in F-117 is very much different
from the others. The engines are placed deep within the aircraft like any stealth
aircraft and at the outlet, a section of the fuselage deflects the exhaust to another
direction. This is useful for deflecting the hot exhaust gases in another direction.
Methods of avoiding detection

There are some more methods by which planes can avoid detection. These
methods do not need any hi-tech equipment to avoid detection. Some of them
have been used for years together by pilots to avoid detection.

One of the main efforts taken by designers of the stealth aircraft of today is to
carry the weapons payload of the aircraft internally. This has shown that
carrying weapons internally can considerably decrease the radar cross-section of
the aircraft. Bombs and Missiles have a tendency to reflect the incoming radar
waves to a higher extent. Providing missiles with RAM and RAS is an
impossible by the cost of these things. Thus the missiles are carried in internal
bombays which are opened only when the weapons are released.

Aircraft has used another method of avoiding detection for a very long time.
Radars can use the radar waves or electro-magnetic energy of planes radar and
locate it. An aircraft can remain undetected just by turning the radar off.

In case of some of the modern stealth aircraft, it uses its wingman in tandem to
track its target and destroy it. It is done in the following way. The fighter, which
is going to attack moves forward, the wingman (the second aircraft) on the other
hand remains at a safe distance from the target which the other fighter is
approaching. The wingman provides the other fighter with the radar location of
the enemy aircraft by a secured IFDL (In Flight Data Link). Thus the enemy
radar is only able to detect the wingman while the attacking fighter approaches
the enemy without making any sharp turns. This is done not to make any sudden
variations in a stealth aircraft's radar signature. Thus the fighter, who moves
forward, is able to attack the enemy without being detected.
Plasma Stealth

Plasma stealth technology is what can be called as "Active stealth technology"

in scientific terms. This technology was first developed by the Russians. It is a
milestone in the field of stealth technology. The technology behind this not at
all new. The plasma thrust technology was used in the Soviet / Russian space
program. Later the same engine was used to power the American Deep Space 1
probe.

In plasma stealth, the aircraft injects a stream of plasma in front of the aircraft.
The plasma will cover the entire body of the fighter and will absorb most of the
electromagnetic energy of the radar waves, thus making the aircraft difficult to
detect. The same method is used in Magneto Hydro Dynamics. Using Magneto
Hydro Dynamics, an aircraft can propel itself to great speeds.

Plasma stealth will be incorporated in the MiG-35 "Super Fulcrum / Raptor

Killer". This is a fighter which is an advanced derivative of the MiG-29
"Fulcr[Link] / Baaz". Initial trials have
been conducted on this technology, but most of the results have proved to be
fruitful.
Detection methods for stealth aircraft

Whenever a technology is developed for military purposes, another technology

is also developed to counter that technology. There are strong efforts to develop
a system that can counter the low obervability of the fifth generation stealth
aircraft. There are ways of detection and elimination of a low observable
aircraft but this doesn't give a 100% success rage at present.

On a radar screen, aircraft will have their radar cross sections with respect to
their size. This helps the radar to identify that the radar contact it has made is an
aircraft. Conventional aircraft are visible on the radar screen because of its
relative size. On the other hand, the relative size of a stealth aircraft on the radar
screen will be that of a large bird. This is how stealth aircraft are ignored by
radar and thus detection is avoided.

A proven method to detect and destroy stealth aircraft is to triangulate its

location with a network of radar systems. This was done while the F-117 was
shot down during the NATO offensive over Yugoslavia.

A new method of detecting low observable aircraft is just over the horizon.
Scientists have found a method to detect stealth aircraft with the help of
microwaves similar to the ones emitted by the cell phone towers. Nothing much
is known about this technology, but the US military seems to be very keen
about doing more research on this.
Disadvantages of stealth technology

Stealth technology has its own disadvantages like other technologies. Stealth
aircraft cannot fly as fast or is not maneuverable like conventional aircraft. The
F-22 and the aircraft of its category proved this wrong up to an extent. Though
the F-22 may be fast or maneuverable or fast, it can't go beyond Mach 2 and
cannot make turns like the Su-37.

Another serious disadvantage with the stealth aircraft is the reduced amount of
payload it can carry. As most of the payload is carried internally in a stealth
aircraft to reduce the radar signature, weapons can only occupy a less amount of
space internally. On the other hand a conventional aircraft can carry much more
payload than any stealth aircraft of its class.

Whatever may be the disadvantage a stealth aircraft can have, the biggest of all
disadvantages that it faces is its sheer cost. Stealth aircraft literally costs its
weight in gold. Fighters in service and in development for the USAF like the B-
2 ($2 billion), F-117 ($70 million) and the F-22 ($100 million) are the costliest
planes in the world. After the cold war, the number of B-2 bombers was reduced
sharply because of its staggering price tag and maintenance charges. There is a
possible solution for this problem. In the recent past the Russian design firms
Sukhoi and Mikhoyan Gurevich (MiG) have developed fighters which will have
a price tag similar to that of the Su-30MKI. This can be a positive step to make
stealth technology affordable for third world countries.
Stealth aircraft of yesteryears, today and tomorrow

Stealth technology is a concept that is not at all new. During the Second World
War, allied aircraft used tin and aluminum foils in huge numbers to confuse
German radar installations. This acted as a cover for allied bombers to conduct
air raids. This method was later used as chaffs by aircrafts to dodge radar
guided missiles.

The first stealth aircraft was the F-117 developed by Lockheed Martin. It was a
top-secret project developed by its Skunk Works unit. The F-117 was only
revealed during the late 80s and then saw action in the Persian Gulf.

In due course of time the B-2 was developed as a successor to the B-2. Though
both of them serve different purposes, the B-2 went a step ahead of the F-117.
The B-2 was developed to deliver nuclear weapons and other guided and
unguided bombs. On the other hand the F-117 was developed to deliver its
precision laser guided bombs.

Another stealth aircraft, which made a lot of promises and in the end ended up
in a trashcan, was the A-12. It was a fighter that was designed to replace the F-
14 and F-18 in the future. The capabilities of this aircraft were boasted to such
an extent that the project ended up in a big mess. Billions of dollars were wasted
for nothing.

Stealth technology became famous with the ATF contest. The Boeing-Lockheed
YF-22 and the McDonell Douglas-Grumman YF-23 fought for the milti-billion
contract to build the fighter that would take the USAF into the fifth generation
fighter era. The Boeing-Lockheed won the contract and the F-22 was approved
to be the replacement for the F-15 "Eagle" interceptor.

America now has a competitors, Russia decided to respond to the development

of the F-22 by making the Su-47 (S-37) "Berkut" and the MiG-35 "Super
Fulcrum / Raptor Killer". These fighters were developed by the two leading
aviation firms in Russia Sukhoi and Mikhoyan Gurevich (MiG). The future of
these projects totally depends on the funding which will be provided to the
Russian defense sector. There are some hopes of increase in the funding to these
projects as countries like India have started providing funds and technical
assistance for these projects.

Another competition that soon came into the spotlight after the ATF
competition was the JSF. This time Boeing developed the X-32 and the
Lockheed martin[Link] its X-35. With the
experience gained from developing the F-22, they were tasked with making a
replacement for the F-16. This saw great technological advances, as they had to
make the first operational supersonic VSOL aircraft. Lockheed martin took the
technical assistance of Russian scientists who developed the Yak-141. The Yak-
141 is the first supersonic VSTOL aircraft. In the end the Lockheed team with
its X-35 won the contract and the fighter was re-designated as the F-35.

Many projects remain over the horizon that will use stealth technology as its
primary capability. They come from some of the most unlikely contenders.
These projects include the Euro JSF, which will be designed by the team that
developed the EF-2000. Russia is stepping forward with its LFS project with the
S-54 and other designs. Two new entries into this field will be India and China.
India will be introducing its MCA, which is a twin engine fighter without
vertical stabilizers. This fighter will use thrust vectoring instead of rudders.
China will be introducing the J-12 (F-12/XXJ). This
[Link] a fighter that is similar to the F-22.
Future of stealth technology

Stealth technology is clearly the future of air combat. In the future, as air
defense systems grow more accurate and deadly, stealth technology can be a
factor for a decisive by a country over the other. In the future, stealth
technology will not only be incorporated in fighters and bombers but also in
ships, helicopters, tanks and transport planes. These are evident from the RAH-
66 "Comanche" and the Sea Shadow
stealt[Link] ship. Ever since the Wright
brothers flew the first powered flight, the advancements in this particular field
of technology has seen staggering heights. Stealth technology is just one of the
advancements that we have seen. In due course of time we can see many
improvements in the field of military aviation which would one-day even make
stealth technology obsolete
Stealth in india

India could soon be the third country in the world, after the US and France, to have a stealth
bomber fighter aircraft in its armoury.

The Kolkata-based Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS) has developed a
technology to convert ordinary light combat aircraft into stealth jets that would go undetected
on radar. The first stage of the experiment, which commenced in 1999, has been successfully
concluded. The defence ministry has approved the technology and has given the go-ahead for
"full-scale production" to begin. It is expected to start in about six months? time.

According to IACS scientists associated with the project, the technology uses a special
material to construct a shield on the plexi-glass canopies. It is the glass cover of the pit that
usually betrays the presence of an aircraft as it reflects the laser beam that is emitted to catch
them on the radar. The shield will cover the pit and deflect the laser beam on the shield in all
directions.

"This will make sure the aircraft remains undetected on the radar. We are not sure if the same
technology is used in France and the US. It has been developed in our own way and using our
own techniques. If it works out well, this would be a big step for defence technology in
India," said a scientist.

Defence officials said the advanced combat aircraft made in the US and France have a similar
shield on the plexi-glass canopies. "This shield gives the canopies a golden tinge. This special
layer scatters the laser beams emitted from a radar site either on the ground or in the air
(AWACS). We?ve been trying to develop this technology for some time. The shield
developed by IACS will boost our indigenisation efforts," an official said.

During the exercises at Kalaikunda where US F-16s took part, IAF officials got a closer look
at the gold-tinted canopies. They also got a chance to test the technique by using ground-
based radar. Interestingly, the F-16s from Singapore did not have the shield as the technology
has not been transferred.

The defence authorities were so impressed with the new technology that they decided to fast-
track the process and start full-scale production of the canopy following a test at Jodhpur
recently.

"They had the option of going for a pilot project initially but they chose to skip it," said an
IACS official. Fighter jets like Jaguars, MiGs, Mirages and Sukhois will now be fitted with
this special canopy to enhance their stealth capabilities.

This is the type of technology Pakistan can only dream of  

Q