Editing Stealth technology (section)

{{Short description|Military technology to make personnel and material less visible}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:US Air Force F-117 Nighthawk.jpg|thumb|[[F-117]] [[stealth aircraft]]]]
[[File:Czołg lekki PL-01 (02).jpg|thumb|[[PL-01]] [[stealth ground vehicle|stealth tank]] ]]
[[File:FS Surcouf.jpg|right|thumb|{{ship|French frigate|Surcouf||2}}, a French [[stealth ship|stealth frigate]]]]
'''Stealth technology''', also termed '''low observable technology''' ('''LO technology'''), is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive and active [[electronic countermeasure]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rao |first1=G.A. |last2=Mahulikar |first2=S.P. |year=2002 |title=Integrated review of stealth technology and its role in airpower |journal=Aeronautical Journal |volume=106 |issue=1066 |pages=629–641|doi=10.1017/S0001924000011702 |s2cid=108545502 }}</ref> The term covers a range of [[military technology|methods]] used to make personnel, [[Stealth aircraft|aircraft]], [[Stealth ship|ships]], [[submarine]]s, [[missile]]s, [[satellite]]s, and [[Stealth ground vehicle|ground vehicles]] less visible (ideally [[invisible]]) to [[radar]], [[Thermographic camera|infrared]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mahulikar |first1=S.P. |last2=Sonawane |first2=H.R. |last3=Rao |first3=G.A. |year=2007 |title=Infrared signature studies of aerospace vehicles |url= http://dspace.library.iitb.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10054/613|journal=Progress in Aerospace Sciences |volume=43 |issue=7–8 |pages=218–245 |bibcode=2007PrAeS..43..218M |doi=10.1016/j.paerosci.2007.06.002|url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[sonar]] and other detection methods. It corresponds to [[military camouflage]] for these parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., [[multi-spectral camouflage]]).

Development of modern stealth technologies in the United States began in 1958,<ref name=national>{{cite web |last=Richelson |first=J.T. |title=Science, Technology and the CIA |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB54/ |work=The National Security Archive |publisher=The George Washington University |date=10 September 2001 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref><ref name=learnt>{{cite conference |url=http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM09_1811/PV2009_1522.pdf |title=Design and Development of the Blackbird: Challenges and Lessons Learned |last=Merlin |first=Peter W. |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018072710/http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM09_1811/PV2009_1522.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2013 |conference=47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including The New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition |date=5–8 January 2009 |place=Orlando, Florida |access-date=6 October 2009}}<!-- Involved URLs: https://www.scribd.com/doc/20131420/NASA-SR71-Blackbird-Challenges-and-Lessons-Learned-2009 and http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMASM09_1811/PV2009_1522.pdf --></ref> where earlier attempts to prevent radar tracking of its [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]] spy planes during the [[Cold War]] by the [[Soviet Union]] had been unsuccessful.<ref>Cadirci, S. "[http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2009/Mar/09Mar_Cadirci.pdf RF Stealth (or Low Observable) and Counter- RF Stealth Technologies: Implications of Counter- RF Stealth Solutions for Turkish Air Force] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720014221/http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2009/Mar/09Mar_Cadirci.pdf |date=2011-07-20}}." ''Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey California, PhD Thesis.'' March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.</ref> Designers turned to developing a specific shape for planes that tended to reduce detection by redirecting [[electromagnetic radiation]] waves from radars.<ref name=b2>{{cite web |last=Yue |first=T. |title=Detection of the B-2 Stealth Bomber and a Brief History on "Stealth" |url=http://tech.mit.edu/V121/N63/Stealth.63f.html |work=The Tech – Online Edition |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |date=30 November 2001 |access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref> [[Radiation-absorbent material]] was also tested and made to reduce or block radar signals that reflect off the surfaces of aircraft. Such changes to shape and surface composition comprise stealth technology as currently used on the [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit]] "Stealth Bomber".<ref name=learnt/>

The concept of stealth is to operate or hide while giving enemy forces no indication as to the presence of friendly forces. This concept was first explored through camouflage to make an object's appearance blend into the visual background. As the potency of detection and interception technologies (radar, [[infrared search and track]]ing, [[surface-to-air missile]]s, etc.) have increased, so too has the extent to which the design and operation of military personnel and vehicles have been affected in response. Some military uniforms are treated with chemicals to reduce their [[infrared signature]]. A modern ''stealth'' vehicle is designed from the outset to have a chosen [[spectral signature]]. The degree of stealth embodied in a given design is chosen according to the projected threats of detection.