Re: AREA 51 and fiber optic technology


Message posted by Magoo on September 12, 2000 at 23:14:03 EST:

This subject has been discussed previously on this forum.

Just imagine the weight and aerodynamic penalties that such a system would impose upon a high performance aircraft. Instead of smooth steel or aluminium with flush rivets, the skin would have to be some kind of jigsaw of tubes that the picture is being projected on to, and this would need to cover the entire fuselage and probably upper wing surfaces too! Not to mention the cameras required to take the pictures that are being projected!

It is doubtful that such a system could be made to conform to a 4th generation stealthy curved shape, especially considering the gaps that would be between each screen (gaps = radar returns!), no matter how minute!

Consider also that future air-to-air or air-to-surface engagements are principally going to be fought at BVR ranges (10-100+ NM), which means that such a system is basically not going to be required. The days of tight turning close-in dogfights are almost gone, and the expense and penalties of such a system could not be justified for the rare occasions where you might be jumped and caught close in in your F-22, Typhoon or JSF (or whatever is in the future).

Such a system may (I stress MAY) have applications for battle field helos such as the AH-64 Apache or AH-66 Comanche, as visually queued MANPADS (MAN Portable Air Defence missile Systems, e.g Stinger) are more likely to be considered a threat. It may also have an application on small stealthy battlefield surveillance UAVs, although once again, weight and stealth would be a significant factor.

Magoo


In Reply to: AREA 51 and fiber optic technology posted by area 51 watcher on September 12, 2000 at 22:42:45 EST:

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