Re:The Marines say the F-35 is now ready for combat
by dingaling on Saturday August 01, 2015 @02:54AM
(#9986201)
No modern aircraft are 'invisible' in any area of the spectrum.
In terms of radar cross-sections, low-RCS champions like the F-22 only have reduced returns in certain aspects and that only reduces the range at which they can be detected, it doesn't render them invisible^.
In terms of imaging infra-red all modern aircraft glow like candles. Even the B-2, which has various nifty features such as contrail-suppression, is a big hot pancake against the sky and makes a lovely 'hole' against the cosmic radiation background, or TV signals...
^ source: a relation who in a former career often tracked F-117s. The radar detection range was indeed reduced by an order of magnitude but once detected they could be tracked. And when using mobile radars the 'red force' on exercises were often able to align their radars with the aspects of strongest signal return.
In terms of radar cross-sections, low-RCS champions like the F-22 only have reduced returns in certain aspects and that only reduces the range at which they can be detected, it doesn't render them invisible^.
In terms of imaging infra-red all modern aircraft glow like candles. Even the B-2, which has various nifty features such as contrail-suppression, is a big hot pancake against the sky and makes a lovely 'hole' against the cosmic radiation background, or TV signals...
^ source: a relation who in a former career often tracked F-117s. The radar detection range was indeed reduced by an order of magnitude but once detected they could be tracked. And when using mobile radars the 'red force' on exercises were often able to align their radars with the aspects of strongest signal return.