Chinese scientists and engineers have announced that they have developed a plasma stealth device that makes almost any fighter jet nearly undetectable by radar. Unlike previous versions, this technology can make specific areas disappear from radar screens by focusing on them, such as the radar dome or cockpit, instead of creating a plasma cloak covering the entire aircraft.
Chinese Fighter Jet Won’t Be Caught by Radar
Called the “Closed Electron Beam Plasma Stealth Device,” this device can be quickly activated to deceive radar operators. Plasma stealth technology is a concept aimed at reducing the detectability or radar cross-section (RCS) of an aircraft using ionized gas or plasma.
Hypersonic vehicles or weapons move incredibly fast, causing the air in front of them to form a plasma cloud. This cloud absorbs or disrupts radar waves, effectively hiding the object from radar systems.
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How Does This Technology Work?
The idea is to create a plasma layer around the aircraft that can absorb or redirect radar waves, making the aircraft less visible to radar detection systems. While the concept of plasma stealth technology has been studied and researched for decades, practical application and effectiveness remain topics of ongoing debate and research in the defense community.
Some challenges include controlling the energy requirements, density, and distribution of the plasma for sustainment, as well as ensuring overall design and compatibility with functionality. Traditional stealth aircraft like the F-22 Raptor or B-2 Spirit use radar-absorbent materials and specialized shaping to minimize radar reflection.
However, plasma stealth technology adopts a different approach using an ionized gas cloud to achieve similar stealth features. Tan Chang, a scientist working on the project, noted that the new technology offers many advantages such as simple design, adjustable power range, and high plasma density.
Tan and colleagues from the Plasma Technology Center at the Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute suggest that this innovative solution could soon be applied to various military aircraft to meet China’s growing advanced military capabilities.
Tan’s team tested two types of plasma stealth devices. One coats prominent areas with a radioactive isotope to ionize the air and create a dense plasma layer that disperses radar signals. The team stated that plasma generated by electron beams offers better adjustability, energy efficiency, reduced power requirements, and lighter weight, making it suitable for practical use.
Ground tests of the prototypes have demonstrated the feasibility of their designs. What are your thoughts on this matter? You can write your opinions in the comments section below.
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