The F 117 Nighthawk, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is practically
invisible to radar systems. This is because of two unique elements in the
aircraft’s design.
The first element is that it has no right angles on the outer body.
Right angles give off very strong signals when located by radar.
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This is a radar cross-section. It shows how much of a
signal a vehicle gives off.
A three toned parcel truck gives off a large signal because it has lots right angles in its design. The reason the Boeing Model 747 gives off a signal that size is that the fan blades, which are exposed to open air, have right angles. It is the same with the B-52 Stratofortress. Its eight engines give off huge signals for radar to detect. The B-1B Lancer is designed to avoid radar to but it is not as affective as the Nighthawk. |
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The second element of the Nighthawk’s invisibility
to radar is
material (R.A.M). |
the material used on the outer fuselage. It is a radar absorbent | ||
This diagram shows where the radar signal goes when it bounces off the Nighthawk’s fuselage. |
This diagram shows how the material called Radar Absorbent Material is more affective than normal metal and paint. |
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The Engine
The Nighthawk is powered by two 48.05-kN non-after burning General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 engines. Each engine has a shallow ‘platypus’ exhaust. These minimise heat emissions by cooling the exhaust gases and deflecting them upwards. The Armament The Stealth armed mainly and usually with BLU-109 low-level bombs or with GBU 10/GBU 27 medium-level laser-guided bombs. It can also be armed with AIM-9L air-to-air missiles for protection. |
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| Technical Details
The Stealth Bomber has a maximum speed of Mach 1. This is an estimated speed because many details about the Stealth are classified U.S Airforce secrets. Another unknown detail is the maximum altitude of the Stealth Bomber. It weighs 13600 kilograms empty and 2381 kilograms fully armed. The Stealth’s combat radius is 1200 kilometres with a 2250 kilogram weapons load. |
Dimensions Wing Span : 13.20 metres Length : 10.08 metres Height : 3.78 metres Wing Area : 106 metres squared |