Posted on 05/24/2006 4:14:58 AM PDT by albyjimc2
China’s military claims it has developed technology to detect U.S. F-22 jet fighters.
The F-22 is the newest Air Force jetfighter equipped with radar-evading stealth characteristics. The first jets entered service last year.
According to a report from a weapons research institute in China, the Chinese military has developed “a number” of technologies that can be used to detect and attack stealth jets. The U.S. military pioneered the use of stealth jets with the F-117 fighter-bomber, the B-2 strategic bomber and the new F-22. The jets use composite material and unique shapes to reduce radar signatures.
"Owing to the fact that some technologies and means of stealth planes were developed in light of current air defense system, we totally can, through analyzing their technologies and facts, weaken or eliminate their stealth capability," a Chinese expert was quoted as saying in the PRC-owned Ta Kung Pao newspaper. The effort involves the use of multiple sensors to measure reflected radar beams from targets. The new system permits locating and locking on to the targets.
The Chinese expert claimed the technology has been “mastered.”
U.S. F22 Stealth jet fighter
So can Israel, Russia and France, and probably a few other countries as well. This isn't a big secret to be honest.
Even if the ChiComs can detect the F-22, they still need pilots that can see straight and aim straight, unlike their late prize pilot Wong Wei (who sleeps with the fishes).
I agree, most likely BS. Beijing must be pumping up their Ahmadinejad gland.
Technology for detecting stealth planes has reportedly been around for awhile. There was speculation the F-117 downed in Serbia or Kosovo was detected by Chinese made equipment.
Emperial Leedah say "Amelican steath plane!....gotta get me one of doze."
The flaming wreckage of their falling 80's tech fighters will be the first clue the Chinese have that an F-22 is in the area.
If this story were remotely true, it would not be in the newspaper.
Guess We'll have to use cruise missiles to take out their radar first.
All your stealth planes are belong to us!
Stealth is and always has been a perishable technology. That's why it's secret.
That said, the Chicoms don't have an F-22 to test against so they can't possibly know if it works - and there are always tactics that enhance survivability in combat situations.
There was some internet talk during the Kosovo war about how the Chinese were working with local militias (Croats or Serbs, I'm sorry to say I can't keep the two sides straignt) to spot F-117 aircraft using -- I think it called "bi-static radar" or "bi-modal radar" (can't remember which). The locals had removed the doors from hundreds of microwave ovens, and were operating them at night with their cavities pointed skyward. Experimental equipment in the Chinese embassy was used to track the F-117's. Supposedly, that's why we "mistakenly" bombed the Chinese embassy compound.
The way stealth works is it will absorb much of a radar beam, and reflect the rest in directions other than back to the radar installation
But if the stealth jet gets BETWEEN a microwave transmitter and a receiver, it will cast a shadow
The way stealth-detecting technology works is to have lots of receivers monitoring microwave energy from lots of sources, including cell towers. Any disturbance is noted. With many receivers and enough compute power, you can triangulate on the source of the disturbance
If this were true, they wouldn't let on, with the intention that, if war with the U.S. came, the big surprise (detecting U.S. stealth planes) would be much more effective in countering them.
Since it isn't true, they at least get the propaganda value out of saying it is.
It was the Serbs. Also, see my post #14
I don't find this report in the slightest bit surprising - stealth is an over-rated gimmick on a fighting aircraft, IMHO.
In 1996 the was a lot of fuss at the Farnborough air show when ground based RAF radar tracked the B2 bomber that was visiting from a significant range and it was also tracked by radar at a local airport. British Aerospace greatly upset the US military by releasing a video showing it's Rapier anti-aircraft missile system tracking the B2 on it's approach to the show, on it's flypast and when it left! It should be noted that Iran uses this BAE Rapier system for air defence! The B2 and F117 have also been regularly tracked from Type 42 destroyers with standard radar.
Thanks.
Also, see my post #14.
Thanks again.
Do you think the microwave oven story was true? I do remember reading at the time (it was probably on a thread right here at FR) that they were also using signals from TV stations and cell towers located on hills around the city. Did this have anything to do with the shoot-down of one F-117 that occurred, or was that just a lucky shot?
The way I understand it, Stealth just makes an aircraft harder to detect. Nobody ever claimed it made it invisible.
I would imagine that when the USAF plans on using a Stealth aircraft, the stealth capabilities are just one factor that they use in mission planning, other forms of EW are undoubtably employed along with pilot tactics, etc.
Chinese are assuming the planes will be flying far above tree top level. They are also assuming they will have unconfused air defenses intact to actully shoot anything.
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