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>The B-1 and B-52 also have low observability characteristics I'd challenge the B-52 bit. The airframe had pretty well reached its final form by 1950. Radar wa
by stratomorph 16y ago
>The B-1 and B-52 also have low observability characteristics
I'd challenge the B-52 bit. The airframe had pretty well reached its final form by 1950. Radar was still in its infancy, let alone radar countermeasures. The plane is all radar-inviting angles (like the giant vertical stab), and there wasn't even an attempt to shield the engine exhausts from IR sensors, as IR homing weapons didn't exist at the time. I'd go so far as to say the B-52 is about as high-observable as an airplane gets.
Edit: Maybe you mean active countermeasures?
- runjake 16y agoYou are correct about the airframe, but the airframe wasn't what I was referring to. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar-absorbent_material http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar-absorbent_material Active countermeasures aren't very stealthy except when you're attacking a specific detection system.
- Retric 16y agoDeclassified info from 1945 :) page 21 shows some jamming equipment for a B-17. Page 24 even has some spoof equipment for when you want to pretend you brought some friends along. http://www.scribd.com/doc/33263034/WWII-Radar-Countermeasures-Equipment http://www.scribd.com/doc/33263034/WWII-Radar-Countermeasure... PS: And it just keeps going and going. It's crazy to think how far the cat and mouse game was even all the way back then.