Migman

During the late Sixties, the USA speculated that in the event of a nuclear confrontation with Russia, the Russians would be able to contain most US Bases within days. Some war mechanism was needed to topple the overwhelming power from the Soviets and the Americans found the solution : STEALTH

Today newer fighters being developed are coming in with all kinds of stealth goodies included – radar absorbent paint, composites, credible use of S-bend air intakes, supercruise capabilities, etc. while preexisting fighters are being geared up to 4+ + standard with inclusion of AESA and LPI capacity to scatter radar pulse to trip sensors of enemy fighters. The F-22 has supercruise capability of Mach 1.5+ , Eurofighter near Mach 1.

Migman

I will pick the LCA, because it’s the smallest fighter, highly composite and I’m positive it has the least detectable RCS. Imagine LCA’s wingspan 26.88 ft (8.20 m) is even smaller than F-22’s tailspan 29 ft (8.84 m). Then it employs CFC materials for up to 45% by weight which the highest of any other current fighter, so directivity of radar reflection would be very low.

ArmchairGeneral

Rather odd poll. Radar cross section isn't really a matter of opinion. Anyhow, size has very little to do with stealth. The B-2 is far more stealthy than the F-117, and much larger. Composites, while less reflective to radar than metal, are not truly "stealthy" materials. You need RAM on reflective surfaces, and you need to reduce those surfaces as much as possible.

F/A-18E has a very reduced radar cross section. Typhoon and Rafale probably have a bit too. IIRC, the Rafale is supposed to have an extremely capable jamming system, too.

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gunnut

Stealth wasn't developed to break containment. Stealth was made to penetrate Soviet defenses. As such, it is almost entirely an offensive feature.

I think the Rafale is probably the stealthiest out of this bunch. Of course I could be way off, so I didn't even vote in the poll. Simply said, I don't know jack.

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Jimmy

I'm not even touching this one...there are a lot of aircraft in there that I just dont know much about. And as mentioned, this poll isnt asking for an opinion, its dealing with straight-up fact.

That said, I'd expect the LCA, Typhoon, or Superbug to have the lowest RCA. With the F-16 not far behind.

FiRepower

Su-47 is actualy a stealth plane , so is eurofighter , so why are they on the list , anyway from the non stealth planes its hard to tell , probably around F/A-18 too Mig35 or Su-30 series

Jimmy

Eurofighter is not stealth, it just makes use of some low observable technologies. But it shows up big time compared to the F-22. And there's no way the Berkut is at all a stealth design.

Edit: Maybe I should avoid throwing extra words into my posts.

joey

Another absolute ridiculous poll, seriously....

Detection depends upon radar waves reflecting back, which depends inturn upon the weather to altitude to what not.

All modern fighter uses RAM and uses Shape memory alloy composites.

It is almost impossible to determine thing as such without knowing how the air force has planned the airspace to be used.

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wabpilot

I won't vote for reasons previously stated. I will put the F-18E/F, Rafale and Typhoon in the same class as roughly equals. The Rafale and Typhoon are derived from the same specification and are for all intents and purposes equals when it comes to RCS. The F-18E/F was developed from a different document, but from similar requirements. All three are better than the rest.

Tin Man

Least detectable fighter? Not a clue.
This article quoting EADS is quite interesting and was posted on another forum. The article mentions "stealth retro-fits" which can be applied to legacy fighters to reduce RCS by some margin, the article states that the RCS of the SH has been lowered by 20dB over the earlier `bug. I also see that the SH RCS is getting close to the F-22/35 levels in EADS estimation, make of that what you will. Ares: A Defense Technology Blog: EADS Knows LO

I realise that you can`t turn a legacy jet into a VLO design, but lower observable must have some military value when applied to older jets when you look at the effort being put into the idea by firms like EADS, it opens some interesting possibilities for a whole host of aircraft. Another example was the Tornado, which has had it`s RCS lowered by 17dB, I am assuming this is frontal, the usual aspect these figures are quoted in. Note that the article quotes RAM coatings as the main culprit, without mentioning any other methods. EADS now has a huge RCS test rig out at Manching?, Germany.

As mentioned on the other site, with a RCS reduction "retro-fit-kit" it may be worth remembering what the RCS start point is for any given aircraft before we are "amazed" at the results. How valuable is "any" reduction? I would guess "some/any" reduction is at least of use!

In any case, it looks as if the radar troop`s work will be getting more stressful!

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Indirect Fire

I voted for the Tejas. It's got a decently low RCS, and a heavy use of composites.

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glyn

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FiRepower

So True

omeko3

Isn't the shafaq supposed to be stealth or somewhat close to it?

Northalius

Well, you can say I'm biasedly blind all you want, but I have good reason behind my choice: F/A-18 Super Hornet is [most likely] the stealthiest out of the bunch, in my opinion.

The F-18 Super Hornet has the tips of the air intakes shaped like the F-22 Raptors' air intakes. That should say something about its frontal RCS compared to all in competition on the pole.

From the side, its vertical stabilizers are slanted at around 45 degrees; thus, radar is not going to bounce directly back when looking at the F-18 Super Hornet from the side. The Rafale, Eurofighter, Gripen, Tejas, etc. have their vertical stabilizers are 90 degree angles = not good for side profile stealth.

This just being a pure assumption: The makers of the F-18 Super Hornet, Boeing, also worked on the F-22 Raptor project for years, on top of them making their own stealth technology demonstrator "Bird of Prey". So, they know how to make sure to lower RCS, more than any European, Indian or Russian company, I'm betting.