Although airplanes are still a new technology for the history of mankind, they have become the most important vehicles in the military field, as well as in civil aviation. While dominance in the sky can even determine the fate of a country, countries can, of course, too their investments in aircraft. is increasing rapidly.

If it’s one of the most mysterious and scary concepts in aircraft technologies, “ghost planes‘ used to be. So, how do these planes, hiding from their enemies in the sky, actually work? What is the logic of ghost planes?

What is a “ghost plane”?

Contrary to the perception we have when we hear the term ghost, ghost planes do not mean that these planes are invisible to the eye. The term “ghost” is used in the military field not only for aircraft, but also for ships, tanks and vehicles of all kinds. ability to hide from enemy systems that you have there stands that.

That’s why stealth planes are airborne, completely focused on hiding from enemy systems. aimed at surprising the enemy and non-target fighters.

How do ghost planes stay hidden?

Some common techniques and methods used in other stealth vehicles are used to hide the ghost planes. The system the planes really want to hide is the enemy radars. a side hide from radar systems with eyes and ears in the air and on the groundallows to enter airspace and detect/destroy targets without even the ghost of this party.

Various methods are used to ensure that stealth aircraft are hidden from radars. But before we move on to the stealth methods used in aircraft, how the system you want to hide works It is useful to summarize briefly.

Let’s learn how the radar works:

Conventional radars, found on the ground and in land, sea and air vehicles, are periodically sent to the environment. electromagnetic waves Sending. The fact that these waves hit somewhere and bounce back to the receivers indicates the presence of a unit nearby.

The electromagnetic waves that are sent and returned to the receivers are analyzed by computers and The angle of return of the wave is relative to the intensity and speed of the return wave. The location, direction and type of the unit in the area can be determined.

So, how do stealth planes hide from radars?

Making sure the ghost planes are hidden from the radars is actually the electromagnetic waves being reflected off the plane. prevent it from returning to buyers pass. In this regard, aircraft manufacturers may use different methods to deflect electromagnetic waves in different directions or to ensure that the waves are absorbed by the aircraft. Some of these methods are as follows:

Aircraft physical structure:

If you look at the F-16 and other considered “standard” fighters, the fuselage that it does not contain very sharp structures. you can see. This design, used in aircraft, is mainly used to minimize drag in the air and thus increase maneuverability and speed.

But the situation is different in stealth aircraft. If you look at iconic stealth aircraft like the F-117 panels that are much more angular, straight and placed at irregular angles you can see. Although the flatness of the sides and surface in the aircraft design reduces aerodynamic capability, the electromagnetic wave from conventional radars can be reflected at different angles and to distant points from the receivers.

With this design, radar waves that can be bounced off the aircraft can be seen on radar screens. It just leaves a trail like a bird. Because the other waves that come to the plane are reflected in very different directions.

Wave absorbing materials used in aircraft fuselage:

The most critical concealment methods used in ghost planes appear in the materials used on the plane. Aircraft manufacturers have spent billions of dollars over the years researching and developing surfaces and surfaces that allow them to hide aircraft from radar. especially paint develops.

Dyes, which are used today as the most common hiding material, ensure that the waves are absorbed. to special microscopic structures gives place. These triangular structures, which you can see in the image above, cause an incoming radar wave to be trapped in the structure and eventually lose its energy with a jerk. Thus, a very weak wave remains or no wave remains from the reflected wave.

Reducing the thermal footprint of the aircraft:

Speed ​​is one of the most important factors that make an aircraft visible to radars and other systems. heat generated on the aircraft surface and emitted by the engines is happening. Aircraft manufacturers are supported by special materials and paints to reduce the heat generated by air friction on the aircraft surface.

But when it comes to the engine, there are solutions that come with some drawbacks. Ghost planes are devoid of technologies such as ‘afterburner’, which allow planes to reach high speeds, engines run at much lower power. While less heat is generated this way, it significantly reduces its maneuverability when evading enemy units if they are detected.

Of course, new engine technologies are being used to reduce the heat traces in the engines. financially costly and extensive studies progress.

So, is there no way to detect these aircraft? Of course there is:

Just like on the internet hackers with white and black hats There is the same relationship in stealth aircraft as in the relationship between Countries working on new technologies to detect enemy stealth aircraft so as not to face surprises.

Some of the methods used today to detect stealth aircraft are as follows:

• low frequency radars,
• Electromagnetic wave receivers in multiple locations
• Sophisticated systems used to detect the temperature of aircraft (after all, the temperature in aircraft can never be the same as the air)