Incorrect. The F-117 was trackable from day one on low band PPI radars, particularly on "antiquated" Soviet equipment. The F-117 was designed to reduce the probability of lock on from high frequency fire control radars. That was easily discernable from the original emissions and susceptibility test data and the British were tracking them from the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm using low band PPIs.
“The F-117 was trackable from day one on low band PPI radars, particularly on “antiquated” Soviet equipment”
Oh really? True enough that UHF radar (low frequecy) is where stealth platforms have the highest signature but to imply that the F117 wasn’t effective against that radar is simply not true.
Low frequency radar installations are big, and take a long time to set up and so you always know where they are. The F-117 mission planned around them - just how close they could come to a soviet radar is classified - but it was a well-defined and known parameter.
ALL stealth aircraft are trackable by ANY radar - if you get close enough.
“That was easily discernable from the original emissions and susceptibility test data and the British were tracking them from the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm using low band PPIs.”
The original emissions and susceptibility data is classified.
Yes, I heard about that British thing, too. But really it’s not relevant - stealth is not invisibility. Obviously, the F117’s were not trying to avoid them. They also may have had their signature enhanced at that point - so yes, they may have tracked them, but don’t put too much weight on that event.