How to Detect Stealth Aircraft

Can a plane be made truly invisible? The newest generation of stealth, or "low observable" technology, comes close. The first operational stealth planes--the F-117 Nighthawk fighter and the B-2 Spirit bomber--rely primarily on using shape to scatter radar signals and highly specialized thermoplastics and composites to absorb the signals. This leaves several theoretical avenues for detection. The F-22 Raptor addresses some of these deficiencies with technology that reduces visibility in the visual, audio, infrared and radar spectrums. But a few avenues of detection may still remain.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Employ a multistatic low-frequency radar system with multiple receivers and transmitters. First-generation stealth technology reflects energy away from a transmitter's line of sight but increases the radar cross section in other directions. These deflected signals could be monitored and analyzed through sophisticated algorithms to detect a plane's presence. Cell phone signals, TV and FM radio signals have been suggested for this use, because their low frequencies aren't as confused by the stealth shape, but the method hasn't produced exact locations.

2. Detect the aircraft in the period of vulnerability when it deploys its weapons. The plane must use radar to find its targets, and payloads are not generally stealthed. However, these aircraft use very fast weapon deployment sequences, low-possibility-of-intercept radars and new technologies for minimizing electromagnetic emissions.

3. Image the aircraft's heat trail with an infrared-detecting device. No matter how cool the engines and exhaust vents are kept, heat is always liberated when fuel is burned. This technique has so far lacked precision.

4. Use high-resolution Doppler radar, which can image wind velocities, to detect the swirls of air planes leave in their wake. Pinpointing an exact location is the challenge.

5. Detect aircraft-created disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field with vector magnetometers. This technique is currently theoretical. Magnetic anomaly detection has been used to detect submarines, but the process involves the use of salinity differentials not applicable to aircraft. However, since every advance in security technology is inevitably followed closely by the means to defeat it, we can expect stealth-defeating techniques to continue advancing, while stealth technology is challenged to stay a step or two ahead.

Resources

• To buy History Channel DVD on Stealth Technology.
• More on Stealth Technology.

[carabou524]

on 2/19/2008 I would try either a high altitude Jstars or spaced based radar, coupled to a ground base radar serving as a "mirror" reflecting back the exact signal it receives. You wouldn't see the plane, but you would see the moving 'hole' it was leaving as it raced across your protected air space scattering the radar beams. A high res, high power IR camera on board the
radar plane/satellite could then be aimed at the "hole" for positive ID. Seen from above, NO AMOUNT of heat shielding could hide hot jet exhaust.... And all of this technology has been in place for 10 or 15 years now at least.. The only way to hide from that type of radar, would be for the RF to pass unhindered
THROUGH the craft... something that can only be done by the Klingons and Romulans on Star Trek! :o)

[carabou524]

on 2/19/2008 Why not use Jstar type aircraft or space based radar, coupled with a ground based radar reflecting the signals back as a perfect mirror image? Although you still wouldn't see the plane, you would see a "Hole" moving along at the aircrafts speed through your protected airspace. The scattered RF dispersed by the stealth technology SHOULD make it stick out rather vividly, since the radar DID NOT receive
Those signals back. A high resolution IR camera trained on the "hole" from above should be able to confirm it's identity.