My-Analogous
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
- Messages
- 7,013
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
Only the systems that have separate transmitting and recieving antennas or "bi-static" radar could detect a stealth aircraft. The circuitry is so complex the the design of the logic still can not be designed!
When the F-117 was introduced, USAF spokes people said Lockeed had studied the problem and "bi-static" radar is required to detect and lock-on to the stealth aircraft.
A bi-static radar is one that transmits (say around) 2,000 separate frequencies with each pulse. Not only the technical problems involved in transmitting so many different frequencies at one time but even more on the receiving end is far more complicated. Some frequencies will only travel in a straight line, others reflect off different layers of the atmosphere. Sorting out which frequencies do what and how long the signal was in the air and, obtaining the return signal from all the background noise is a problem far beyond today's technology.
This way at least one frequency will bounce off the stealth and go back to the radar but detecting that one return will be difficult out of the two thousand returning frequencies.
A stealth aircraft can be detected by a frequency at a specific range, aspect angle, altitude, etc. If the stealth aircraft moves one meter,that frequency will not work for detecting that stealth aircraft but, some other frequency will! The problem is there is no way of telling what that paticular frequency is. That is why so many frequencies would be required for such a system in order to track and lock-up the stealth aircraft.
A good deal of the expense of designing a stealth aircraft is to test it against all known radars, determine which frequencies will detect the stealth aircraft at what distance, aspect angle, altitude, etc. Find some way to minimize detection even more and find tactics and parameters so the stealth aircraft can fly into combat with confidence it can not be locked-onto.
Even when such a system is available, radar jamming and "nap of the earth" flying will still work for the stealth aircraft.
When stealth aircraft are detectible, non-stealth aircraft will be detected as though they have ID beacons on them.
When the F-117 was introduced, USAF spokes people said Lockeed had studied the problem and "bi-static" radar is required to detect and lock-on to the stealth aircraft.
A bi-static radar is one that transmits (say around) 2,000 separate frequencies with each pulse. Not only the technical problems involved in transmitting so many different frequencies at one time but even more on the receiving end is far more complicated. Some frequencies will only travel in a straight line, others reflect off different layers of the atmosphere. Sorting out which frequencies do what and how long the signal was in the air and, obtaining the return signal from all the background noise is a problem far beyond today's technology.
This way at least one frequency will bounce off the stealth and go back to the radar but detecting that one return will be difficult out of the two thousand returning frequencies.
A stealth aircraft can be detected by a frequency at a specific range, aspect angle, altitude, etc. If the stealth aircraft moves one meter,that frequency will not work for detecting that stealth aircraft but, some other frequency will! The problem is there is no way of telling what that paticular frequency is. That is why so many frequencies would be required for such a system in order to track and lock-up the stealth aircraft.
A good deal of the expense of designing a stealth aircraft is to test it against all known radars, determine which frequencies will detect the stealth aircraft at what distance, aspect angle, altitude, etc. Find some way to minimize detection even more and find tactics and parameters so the stealth aircraft can fly into combat with confidence it can not be locked-onto.
Even when such a system is available, radar jamming and "nap of the earth" flying will still work for the stealth aircraft.
When stealth aircraft are detectible, non-stealth aircraft will be detected as though they have ID beacons on them.