Electromagnetic stealth

The history of stealth is fairly recent but has experienced a significant development over the past decades leading to the creation of several generations of stealth aircrafts and notably the Lockheed F22 and the F22 Rapto. Stealth aircrafts are conceived in order to deflect or absorb waves and send back to the radar a very attenuated signal. Stealth is based upon several basic principles linked to existing electromagnetic phenomena. The radar equivalent surface of the object must be reduced to the minimum so that it is detected by radars as late as possible. The design of a stealth aircraft is subjected to rules in terms of shape, cavities and choice of absorbing materials. Since these developments, stealth has been successfully applied to missiles, drones and warships.