all 1 comments

[–]Tom_Bombadil 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This is a huge problem, because the angular geometry of the aircraft's surface is a significant factor in stealth.

Rounded/radiused surfaces (bubbles) can directly reflect radar signals back to the detection source.

You can test this at night by shining a flashlight at a marble (small reflective sphere) that is far away. It will be easily noticed, because some light is directly reflected toward the source; regardless of the angle of the light source.

Surfaces angled away from the radar source can deflect the light signal up/down and away from the source.

That's why almost all stealth craft are visually angular, compared to non-stealth versions.

Stealth fighters are a waste of money/time. Radar sensitively is only going to get better, and stealth will never keep up economically.

Satellites are more useful.

It's not really about the utility. It's about the war economy, and it's threat.