Editing Radar cross section (section)

=== Shape, directivity and orientation ===
The surfaces of the [[F-117A]] are designed to be flat and very angled. This has the effect that radar will be incident at a large angle (to the [[Reflection (physics)|normal ray]]) that will then bounce off at a similarly high reflected angle; it is forward-scattered. The edges are sharp to prevent rounded surfaces which are normal at some point to the radar source. As any ray incident along the normal will reflect back along the normal, rounded surfaces make for a strong reflected signal.<ref name=":0" />

From the side, a fighter aircraft will present a much larger area than the same aircraft viewed from the front. All other factors being equal, the aircraft will have a stronger signal from the side than from the front; hence the orientation of the target relative to the radar station is important.