Why China and Russia can track the F-35

Summary

The video explains that while stealth fighters like the F-35 and F-22 aren't invisible to radar, they are designed to delay or prevent detection by high-frequency radars that can guide missiles. Low-frequency radars, common in early warning systems, can detect these aircraft but cannot target them effectively. The video highlights the limitations of stealth technology, emphasizing the importance of mission planning to avoid detection. It also discusses historical examples, like the downing of an F-117 in 1999, to show the challenges stealth aircraft face against advanced radar systems.

Takeaways

• 🛩️ Stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35 are not invisible but designed to delay or prevent radar detection.
• 🌍 Low-frequency radar systems, used by countries like Russia and China, can detect stealth fighters but struggle to accurately target them.
• 🔍 Stealth aircraft are more vulnerable to low-frequency radar, which lacks precision but can identify their presence in an area.
• 🎯 Stealth's primary goal is not just to avoid detection, but to avoid being targeted by radar-guided weapons.
• ⚙️ Stealth design involves compromises between radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures for optimal performance and defense.
• 🛠️ Stealth is a combination of technologies, design, materials, and tactics to reduce aircraft visibility on various detection systems.
• 🚨 Early warning radar systems help detect stealth fighters but are often paired with other systems for effective engagement.
• 🎬 The 1999 Yugoslav shoot-down of an F-117 highlighted vulnerabilities in stealth technology and the importance of mission planning.
• 🗺️ Stealth aircraft are detectable on radar but rely on sophisticated mission planning to minimize the risks of being shot down.
• 🚀 Future stealth designs, like the upcoming NGAD and FAXX, may overcome current limitations by reducing even low-frequency radar detection.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of stealth fighters like the F-35 and F-22?

Stealth fighters are designed to minimize their radar signature to delay or prevent detection, making them difficult to target by radar-guided missiles.

Can stealth fighters be detected by radar systems?

Yes, stealth fighters can be detected by certain low-frequency radar systems, but these radars often lack the accuracy needed to guide weapons to the aircraft.

Why are low-frequency radar systems important in detecting stealth fighters?

Low-frequency radar systems can detect stealth fighters because of the physical size and design requirements of the jets. However, they cannot produce high-resolution images or precise targeting data.

How does radar interact with stealth fighters to make them harder to detect?

Stealth fighters are designed to deflect radar waves away from the radar receiver and are covered in radar-absorbent materials to absorb as much of the radar energy as possible, reducing their radar signature.

What is the significance of higher frequency radar bands in targeting stealth fighters?

Higher frequency radar bands, such as the X and K bands, provide the resolution needed to accurately target aircraft. Stealth fighters are primarily designed to evade detection from these higher-frequency radars.

Why do nations develop early warning radar systems for stealth detection?

Nations develop early warning radar systems to detect the presence of stealth fighters in their airspace. Although these systems cannot guide weapons accurately, they provide crucial information to prepare defensive measures.

What happened during the 1999 F-117 Nighthawk shootdown in Yugoslavia?

An F-117 was shot down because its flight path had been predictable, and its stealth profile was compromised when it opened its bomb bay doors. Yugoslav forces used low-frequency radar to detect it and took advantage of American complacency.

How did the design of stealth bombers like the B-2 Spirit improve over stealth fighters?

Stealth bombers like the B-2 Spirit do not have vertical tails, which reduces their radar signature further, especially against low-frequency radar arrays, making them harder to detect than stealth fighters.

What is the difference between detecting and targeting stealth fighters?

Detecting stealth fighters refers to identifying their presence in airspace, while targeting refers to acquiring precise data to guide missiles toward them. Stealth fighters are often detected, but targeting them accurately is far more difficult.

How might future stealth fighters like the NGAD and F/A-XX differ from current ones?

Concept art suggests future stealth fighters like the NGAD and F/A-XX may use delta-wing designs without vertical tails, which could make them more difficult to detect even by low-frequency radar systems, giving them a significant advantage.