INTRODUCTION OF STEALTH

TECHNOLOGY:
Most of the common people would be unaware of this technology and they would first ask
what is this technology?

Stealth technology is that technology which covers the range of technology which is
used by defence men, air craft's, missiles, satellites so that they become invisible to the
radar , infrared, solar and other detection methods.

It is combination of technologies that aims to reduce the distances at which a vehicle or a

person can be detected especially radar cross section reduction.

RADAR CROSS SECTION (RCS) REDUCTION- Various methods have been tried to minimize
radar detection since the invention of radar. Due to the increased awareness of stealth
vehicles and the technologies, development of means to detect stealth vehicles was
provided. However development of low RCS is the desire of most of the countries because
they are advantageous in detection range deduction.
 HISTORY OF STEALTH TECHNOLOGY:
Like every single technology stealth technology have also the back ground or the history.

The development of stealth technology started in 1958, in United States who

were trying to prevent the radar detection of its U-2 spy planes from the soviet union during
the cold war .However that was unsuccessful .This made the designers to develop a
particular shape for the planes that will reduce the detection of planes. The 1st stealth
submarines were the U-boat U-480.The HORTEN HO229 flying wing was one of the earliest
stealth aircraft.For the Carbon powder to be absorbed it included Carbon-powder in the
glue.The assignments to produce the A-12(or OXCART),the 1st of the previously top secret
BLACKBIRD SERIES, which operated at the high altitude of 70,000-80,000 ft. and speed of
Mach 3.2 to avoid radar detection ,were given to KELLY JOHNSON and his teams at
LOCKHEED'S SKUNK words.U-2 sky planes used radar absorbent materials and various and
various plane shapes which were designed to reduce radar detection were developed in
prototype named A1 to A11.In1964, another "BLACKBIRD" the Lockheed SR-71 was
developed.SR-71 have the ability to be operated at 90,000 ft. and at a speed of Mach
3.3.With the help of theory of diffraction American Stealth Aircraft F-117 and B-2 was
developed. This theory of diffraction was used by lock heed in computer simulation to
design a shape which they called "Hopeless Diamond". Which helped them to secure the
contractual rights to produce F-117. Two sixty percent scale models were produced by lock-
heet in 1977 under the HAVE BLUE CONTRACT. Have blue program was the demonstrated
of stealth technology that lasted from 1976-1979. The success of HAVE BLUE PROGRAM led
the air force to create the senior trend program which developed F-117.
Construction & Characteristics of Materials
required to build stealth aircraft
The major problem that the designers developed while constructing the stealth air craft was
in its consrtuction and in identifying the materials required to build the stealth air craft. So
what were characteristics of materials required to build the stealth air craft .

It have been known since late 1960 that shape of air craft makes the difference in the
detectives of the air craft. The TUPDEV-95 , Russian Long Range Bomber, was clearly
observable on radar. After the studies and research it have been known that the propelleres
and jet turbines blades produce a bright radar image .

The ultimate aim of designing any stealth air craft is to reduce its chances of detectibility
by the radar signals. Therefore designers gave importance to some of the characteristics for
the materials required to develop the stealth aircraft with success. And these characteristics
are as follows:

(1)The materials should reduce THERMAL EMISSION from thrust.

(2)The materials should reduce RADAR DEDUCTION by altering some general configuration.

(3)The materials should reduce radar detection where aircraft opens its weapons bay.

(4)The materials should reduce INFRA-RED &RADAR DETECTION during adverse weather
condition.

As we know that stealth technology is the combination of technologies. These

technologies require certain RADAR ABSORBENT MATERIALS.These materials are such
materials which have high concentration of iron powder in a polymer matrix. The radar
absorbent materials may be very costly and very heavy. COMPOSITE MATERIALS also have a
large use not only commercially but industrially also. It's use is also for aircrafts. It have
many advantage which make it ideal to use. for example:composite materials have abiity to
reduce heat transfer, and also to limit the refraction of radar waves. Composite materials
can easily be given different shapes during manufacturing. One example which shows the
importance or use of composite materials in aircraft is F-22 Raptor which was designed and
manufactured by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft System. The raptor composite parts
comprises flexible graphite fibres called PLY.
 Operational usage of stealth Aircraft:
Although stealth technology seems to have a bright future but not to many countries have
exploited its use. US is the only main super power which have utilised the use of stealth air
craft in various war. Now let us focus how US have utilised the stealth technology .

US have used the stealth air craft in the invasion of the panama, the war in Iraq ,
the war in Afghanistan and the latest in 2011, during the military invasion in Libya. The first
use stealth air craft F-117 Night Hawk was during the invasion of the panama.

During 1990 two stealth air craft were used during the NATO bombing of the
YUGOSLAVIA. The stealth air craft were F-117 Night Hawk and B-2 stealth air craft. F-117
Nighthawk performed its role and targeted its aim. B-2 stealth spirit was also highly
successful and was able to destroy 33% of the Serbian Target .

During the invasion of the Iraq in 2003 F-117 Night Hawk and B-2 were used and it
was the last time that F-117 was operationally used .

During the assassination of Osama Bin laden during May,2011 It was revealed that
the air craft used in killing laden had the stealth characteristics and this was the first
publically known operation use of the stealth helicopters.

During the military invasion of Libya in 2011, where B-2 spirit dropped 40 bombs on
Libyan air field.
Infrared Signature :
It is quite possible to detect the stealth air craft by the radar system but is it possible to
detect the stealth air craft by any other means ?

Yes, it is possible as there is a system which is thermal imaging that can pick up an air
craft both by day and nights by its infrared signature which is generated by the high
temperature of the exhaust of the engine. IR signature is quite small when we compared
with radar signature.

Is it possible to reduce the IR signature of the air craft engine?

While it is quite challenging to reduce the IR signature. This requires the development in
engine and also change in its position. In the recent time notable success have been
achieved in reducing the IR signature as engines have developed.
LIMITATIONS:
There are certain draw backs of stealth air craft and it creates a little bit doubt over its
future. So what are these limitations?

Stealth technology no doubt plays an important role in defence of a country. But it

have certain drawbacks or limitations. They are as follows :
(1)Instability of design: initially during the development of stealth technology, more focus
was given on RADAR CROSS SECTION and less focus was given on aerodynamic
performance. The F-117 Nighthawk, one of the highly stealth aircrafts are also
aerodynamically abatable as it require constant and continuous flight corrections by FLY-BY-
WIRE(FBW) flight system.
(2)Aerodynamic limitations- 'Afterburners' lacked in earlier aircraft as the hot exhaust
would increase their infrared footprint and breakdown of sound barrier would produce a
sonic boom and also the heating of the aircraft surface which also causes increase in
infrared footprints. The recent design techniques don't compromises with aerodynamics.
(3)Electromagnetic emission Stealth aircraft are vulnerable to passive detection due to high
level of computerization and large amount of electronic equipments.
(4)Reduced payload: All kinds of fuel and armaments were carried by fully stealth aircraft
internally. The stealth aircraft F-117 can carry only two guided bombs but a non stealth
aircraft carry more number of guided bombs.
(5)Sensitive skin- Stealth aircraft have the cover or skin which are made to absorb the radar
signals by the radar absorbing materials. Some of the RAM are carbon black particle.
(6)Cost of operation- Stealth aircraft are much more expensive to develop and manufacture
.The aircraft B-2 requires large amount of expenditure to manufacture it.
Stealth air craft lost:
Due to the various wars and also due to some defect in their structures some of the stealth
air craft have been lost or have been shot down. So what are the some of the stealth aircraft
that have been lost??

On 27 march 1999, 1st stealth aircraft was shot down. this happened when the
stealth aircraft American F-117 nighthawk was brought down by isayev S-125 Neva-
Mmissile launched by a Serbian air defence crew.

In December 2011 the videos of the captured U.S. RQ-170 were shown by isranium sources
which was later confirmed by U.S sources. the experts says that it might would have been
captured by electronics cyber attack or jamming.

The stealth aircraft B-2 was crashed on 23rd February 2008. This was caused due to the
reason that heavy lashing rain forced the water to enter skin flash air data sensors. The B-2
air craft quickly slatted, become unrecoverable and crushed.
Future of stealth technology:
Although the future of the stealth technology seems to be good but the improvement of
sensors, detectors have a great influence on its future and will hamper its development .

The Russian Sukhoi PAKFA stealth multi roll fighter is scheduled to be introduced from 2015
to perform various missions.

The Sukhoi/HAl FGFA, the Indian version of PAKFA is scheduled to be introduced from 2017
in higher numbers so as to perform various missions.

China also plans to introduce the CHENGDU J-20 Stealth multi role fighter around 2018.

But in the future the question which keep on arising is whether with improvement of
sensors will the stealth technology survive?

The question is very important because stealth air craft have been the one of the
main weapons of US and now the development of sensors have created the fear that its
presence can easily be detected. This can be seen that after the navy's troubled A-12 stealth
plane program was cancelled in 1991.
Future of stealth technology in India:
India too have been Trying to develop the stealth air craft and its two air craft are under the
way of development. In India Indian defence system believed that the stealth technology wil
be extended to transport air craft, rotary wings. It is no doubt that stealth technology will
play an important role in air defence force. The two stealth air craft of India which is under
development are:

1) FGAFA-SUKHOI\HAL

2) AMCA-ADA\HAL
Research done on stealth technology
Although technology have been used a lot but its research is on the way to develop further and the
scientists and the designers are working to make the stealth air craft more functional and highly
efficient. Almost all the developing countries are now conscious of the security of their country so
there defence system is trying to develop the stealth air craft and therefore research is done on this
technology. US is trying further to strengthen its security by spending lot of money on the research
of the stealth technology.

The various ways have been used by the scientists in their research. The ways are:

When the refractive have a negative value for some frequency range such as in micro wave,
Infrared then this are called negative index meta materials which have artificially structure.
This meta materials provide another way to reduce detectives.

A phenomenon in which ionised gas are used to reduce the radar cross section of vehicles is
called PLASAMA STEALTH. The interaction between ionised gas and electromagnetic
radiation have been studied to detect the invisibility of stealth air craft from radar.

Several research of the technologies and development efforts to bring out the function of
air craft flight control system to perform the aero-dynamic purpose. There are many
research work which have been done but two approaches seem to be promising they are
flexible wing and FLUIDUS.

In flexible wings the air flow can be deflected by the wing surface which can change shape in
flight. The X-35 Active AEROELASTIC wing was a US air force, NASA effort.

In fluidus to control direction, fluid injection is being researched for use in air craft in two
ways - for circulation control and thrust vectoring.