Modern military aircraft not only fly fast and oftentimes carry heavy payloads, they can also virtually disappear. One of the biggest challenges in making this happen lies with concealing the engines, which generate infrared heat that can be seen on enemy radar and even tracked by missiles.
However, owing to the advancements in stealth aircraft technology,
Modern aircraft can effectively blend into their surroundings. This is achieved by decreasing the engines’ thermal footprint through specialized exhaust systems. These advanced nozzles mix the scorching gases emitted by the plane with the frigid atmospheric conditions found at higher elevations, thereby making the vehicle nearly undetectable to hostile radar systems.
Unlike previous aircraft,
the most sophisticated jets such as the F-35
travel slower, which cuts down on the amount of hot exhaust it generates. The F-35 Lightning and F-22 Raptor are actually built with radar-absorbing material, which also decreases the chance of either aircraft being tracked by enemy systems. The B-2, is built with vents that cool the hot exhaust before it can exit the craft. The B-2’s exhaust ports are also located on top of its airframe, which decreases the chance the plane can be spotted with ground radar or be tracked with heat-seeking missiles.
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Stealth technology can assist in hiding aircraft from detection.
Stealth aircraft are not just protected against enemy radar and heat-seeking missiles; they can also be made invisible to the naked eye and silent so as to avoid detection.
The B-2 bomber, which has the highest price tag of any aircraft ever constructed,
It features a slim profile and dark coloring that helps it merge seamlessly with the nighttime heavens. While the aircraft is quite visible during daylight hours, its form and lack of contrail against the azure expanse make it challenging to track from afar.
The B-2’s internal engines limit the sound emitted from its noisiest component, solving the problem of being heard from adversaries and remaining undetectable. The F-117 Nighthawk is another stealth aircraft that’s built with similar low observable technology. However, even with the tech the military currently has, true invisibility for stealth aircraft has not yet been achieved. Metamaterial, a lattice-like structure that can help conceal objects from view, has not reached the point that it can cause a plane to truly disappear. Until such cloaking is perfected, stealth aircraft will need to rely on the technology it currently has.
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original article on Dailyexe
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