Stealth Technology

By:
Shivam Srivastava
0715031091
Contents
How a Radar System works?
What is Stealth Technology?
Principles of Stealth Technology
RCS reduction
Types of RAM
History of Stealth Technology
Current Scenario in the World
Current Scenario in India
Future Proposal: Plasma Stealth
Radar Stealth Limitations
Conclusion
References
How a Radar System works?
What is Stealth Technology?
Stealth Technology also known as Low Observable
Technology is a technology in which the object is
made less visible to Radar Systems, Sonar, Infrared and
other detection methods.
Principles of Stealth Technology
The object can be shaped so that any radar signals it
reflects are reflected away from the radar equipment
(Reduction of RCS).
The object can be covered in materials that absorb
radar signals.
 Principle 1:

 Most conventional aircraft have a rounded shape. The

round shape means that no matter where the radar
signal hits the plane, some of the signal gets reflected
back.
A stealth aircraft, on the other hand, is made up of
completely flat surfaces and very sharp edges. When
a radar signal hits a stealth plane, the signal reflects
away at an angle, like this:
Principle 2: Radar Absorbent Material (RAM)
 Radar-absorbent material, or RAM, is a class of
materials used in stealth technology to disguise a
vehicle or structure from radar detection. A material's
absorbency at a given frequency of radar wave depends
upon its composition.
Types of RAM
Iron Ball Paint: It contains tiny spheres coated
with carbonyl iron or ferrite. Radar waves induce
molecular oscillations from the alternating magnetic
field in this paint, which leads to conversion of the
radar energy into heat. The heat is then transferred to
the aircraft and dissipated.
Foam Absorber: This material typically consists of a
fireproofed urethane foam loaded with carbon black,
and cut into long pyramids.  Pyramidal RAM
attenuates signal by two effects- scattering and
absorption.
Jaumann absorber: A Jaumann absorber or Jaumann
layer is a radar absorbent device. Jaumann layer
consisted of two equally-spaced reflective surfaces and
a conductive ground plane.
History of Stealth Technology
The Stealth Technology was introduced during World
War II in the German Submarines when they used Radar
absorbent paint on it.
In 1945 the U.S. developed a RADAR-absorbent paint
containing iron.
 In the mid 1960s, the U.S. built a high-altitude
reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird,
that was extremely RADAR-stealthy for its day.
Later in 1980s, U.S. government admitted existence of
Stealth Aircraft. Since then, F – 117 and B-2 bomber plane
became familiar to outer world.
Current Scenario in the World
Currently Fifth Generation Fighter Aircrafts (FGFAs)
are in existence, as US has developed F-22 RAPTOR
Stealth Aircraft which started serving in 2005.
Along with FGFA, the two frequently used stealth
aircrafts are F-117 nighthawk and B-2 spirit bomber
stealth aircrafts which were deployed by USA during
Iraq and Afghanistan attacks.
Russian manufacturer Sukhoi announced that it has a
market for 1000 fifth generation ‘Sukhoi PAK FA’
aircrafts over next four decades, which will be
produced in a joint venture with India, including 200
aircrafts for India.
Current Scenario in India
On 11 September 2010, the Business Standard of India
reported that Russia and India signed an agreement for joint
participation in a Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft
Program(FGFA), which will give India responsibility for
development of a two-seat model of the PAK-FA. It’s already
being touted as superior to the American FA-22 raptor.
India has made a $25 billion deal in this project with Russia
for 250 such aircrafts, each plane costing Rs. 450 crore
approx. which is set to be completed in 2017.
The Indian Air Force will acquire 50 single-seater fighters of
the Russian version before the two seat FGFA is developed.
Future Proposal: PLASMA STEALTH
Plasma stealth is a proposed process that uses ionized
gas (plasma) to reduce the radar cross section (RCS) of
an aircraft.
A plasma is a quasineutral  mixture of ions, electrons, and
neutral particles
A plasma can absorb all the energy in an incoming wave
and hence reduces RCS, and this is the key to plasma
stealth.
 A reduction in RCS also results in a proportional
reduction in detection range, allowing an aircraft to get
closer to the radar before being detected.
A computer generated picture of ‘Plasma
Stealth’ Implementation in Aircrafts.
Radar Stealth Limitations
Design Limitation (RCS variations): Radar cross-
section of an aircraft depends on the angle from which
it is viewed, an aircraft will typically have a much
smaller RCS when viewed from the front or rear than
when viewed from the side or from above.
Detection by Bi- static radars: the transmitter and
receiver of a bi-static radar are in separate locations —
indeed, a single transmitter may be used by radar
receivers scattered over a wide area. This greatly
increases the odds that at least one of these receivers
will pickup a reflected signal.
Conclusion
Stealth Technology concludes its military applications
in fighter Aircrafts, so that the aircrafts designed using
this technology are almost invisible to Radar detection
techniques and other sonar, Infrared detection
methods.
Stealth Technology is a step towards achieving
invisibility. The first principle mainly concludes this by
the reduction of RCS.
FGFAs designed on Stealth Technology are completely
invisible to present Radar Systems.
References
‘IEEE’ Research Papers on Stealth Technology.
William F. Bahret, The Beginnings of Stealth
Technology.
Rao, G.A., & Mahulikar, Integrated review of stealth
technology and its role in airpower, Aeronautical
Journal.
Discovery Channel TV show ‘Future Weapons’,
‘Fighter Aircrafts’.