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To: rjsimmon
"The entire point is to avoid EW detection. Once a TTR has a lock, stealth no longer applies."

The entire point of stealth is to not return enough energy to the EW or TTR radars for detection. As another data point, clearly the air-to-air radars carried by F-16s and F-18s (and from other sources, F-15s) aren't sufficient to detect either F-22s or F-35s (or for that matter, B-2s). Our stealth aircraft were built to successfully penetrate heavily defended airspace.

IR detection is another story, and I expect if the US can control the operational tempo most stealth missions will occur during overcast conditions. It is also true that only the F-22 and B-2 have all-aspect stealth, so F-35s may be detectable by radar during egress.

12 posted on 05/25/2017 8:20:24 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty (Make America Greater Than Ever!)
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To: PreciousLiberty

IR is a good point as the F-22’s and F-35’s were designed to have minimal IR signatures. As for the fighter Radars, their scan and beam width are too narrow for EW which is why the strike you linked was successful. I have successfully engaged F-18’s that could not see us even at the merge. I saw the pilots head buried in the cockpit as they flew past us. They were never meant for EW which is why Ground Controlled Intercept (GCI) is critical for the initial air-to-air engagement.

Everyone in the business knows a receding target is not a viable target. A/C on egress are rarely pursued.


13 posted on 05/25/2017 8:28:50 AM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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