This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Measuring Low Observable Technology's Effects on Combat Aircraft Survivability
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The introduction of Low Observable (LO) technology on combat aircraft has produced a leap in aircraft survivability but also raised some difficult questions. How do you quantify survivability, and since new technology tends to be expensive, how LO does an aircraft need to be to accomplish its mission? This paper will show how low observability dramatically improves combat aircraft survivability by reducing an air defense's ability to detect, track, intercept and destroy an LO aircraft. Important aircraft signatures that can be detected such as radar, visual, infrared and intentional emissions are discussed in detail as well as methods to reduce those signatures. LO and mission planning tactics' impacts on threat system capabilities are examined and examples of LO aircraft penetration of a notional hostile air defense are shown. The conclusion is that through the use of mission planning tactics and low signature, LO aircraft can survivably penetrate heavily defended air space with little support in order to accomplish their mission.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Paterson, J., "Measuring Low Observable Technology's Effects on Combat Aircraft Survivability," SAE Technical Paper 975544, 1997, https://doi.org/10.4271/975544.Also In
References
- Aronstein, David “The Development and Application of Aircraft Radar Cross Section Prediction Methodology,”
- Ball, Robert The Fundamentals of Aircraft Combat Survivability Analysis and Design American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. New York, NY 1985
- BURLE Electro-Optics Handbook Burle Industries, Inc. Lancaster, PA 1989
- Farina, A. Studer, F. Radar Data Processing Vol. 1 Research Studies Press LTD. Hertfordshire, England 1995
- Gordon, Michael R. Trainor, Bernard E. General The Generals' War Little, Brown and Company New York, NY 1995
- Heilenday, Frank. Principles of Air Defense and Air Vehicle Penetration CEEPress Books George Washington University Washington, D.C. 1988
- Howe, D. “Introduction to the Basic Technology of Stealth Aircraft: Part I & II,” Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power January 1991 113
- Hudson, Richard D. Infrared System Engineering John Wiley & Sons New York, NY 1969
- Knott, E. Shaeffer, J. Tuley, M. Radar Cross Section Artech House Norwood, MA 1993
- Lorell, M. Raymer, D. Kennedy, M. Levaux, H. The Gray Threat RAND Santa Monica, CA 1995
- Nathanson, F. Radar Design Principles McGraw-Hill Book Company New York, NY 1969
- Shrader, Willian W. “Radar Technology Applied to Air Traffic Control,” IEEE Transactions on Communication Com-21 5 May 1973
- Skolnik, Merrill Introduction to Radar Systems McGraw-Hill Book Company New York, NY 1980
- Stimson, George Introduction to Airborne Radar Hughes Aircraft Company El Segundo, CA 1983
- Sweetman, Bill “The Future of Airborne Stealth,” International Defense Review March 1994
- Toomay, J. Radar Principles for the Non-Specialist Lifetime Learning Publications Belmont, CA 1982
- Whitford, Ray “Designing for Stealth in Fighter Aircraft (Stealth from the Aircraft Designer's Viewpoint),”