- The article explains the physics behind stealth aircraft, focusing on the F-117, which uses radar cross-section (RCS) minimization based on Soviet mathematician Pyotr Ufimtsev’s 1971 paper on edge diffraction.
- RCS measures how much radar energy an object reflects; reducing RCS drastically cuts detection distance, as shown by comparing objects like a human (1 m²) to the F-117 (0.01–0.1 m²).
- Physical Optics (PO) simplifies RCS computation by assuming perfect electrical conductivity, illuminated-only surface currents, and specular reflection, enabling faster calculations for early stealth optimization.
- Flat, angled surfaces are superior for stealth because they deflect radar away like mirrors, avoiding the backscatter from curved surfaces and internal reflections.
- The F-117’s faceted design made it unstable, requiring computer systems to fly, highlighting trade-offs between stealth and aerodynamics.