Message posted by Magoo on April 02, 2002 at 15:24:02 PST:

Stealth isn't just the visual look or shaping of an aircraft. Some of the guys have mentioned other methods (interestingly, noone has mentioned good old camouflage!), but tactics and overall doctrine probably plays the biggest single part in successful employment of 'stealth'.

It's all well and good to have the latest high tech gear and shaping on an aircraft, but if you fly it 'downtown' at 200 kts and 500 ft, it aint gonna last long! Now, obviously that's an extreme example, but I'm sure you get the picture.

The sensors an aircraft carries also contribute to it's 'stealthiness' too. Are they active or passive? Do they radiate alot of energy that can be picked up by an enemy aircraft and pinpointed etc? For example, the IRST system carried by the Russian fighters, the Eurofighter and the F-16 Block 60 can detect and track an aircraft from 50+ miles away whilst remaining totally passive. A long range IR missile can be cued and fired using the IRST alone, and it'll be half way to its target before the other aircraft even realises what is happening.

None of these aircraft mentioned above are particularly 'stealthy' in the commonly used sense compared to the F-22, however they could possibly get the first shot off in a head-on closing combat situation if used wisely.

Magoo

In Reply to: Stealth posted by Toms on April 02, 2002 at 6:40:03 PST:

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