RCS
The base radar formula used is (RCS1/RCS2)^0.25. So the F-16C reduced RCS is 1.2 m2, standard fighter is 5 m2. (1.2/5)^0.25 = 0.69. Therefore the F-16C can be detected at 69% of radar range as compared with a standard fighter.
B-52 Bomber 100 m2 bomber range x1
F-4, A-10 25 m2 bomber x 0.71, fighter x 1.5
B-1B Bomber 10 m2 bomber x 0.56, fighter x 1.19
Tornado 8 m2 fighter x 1.12
Generic fighter 5 m2 fighter range x 1
MiG-21 3 m2 fighter x 0.88
F-16C/18C w. reduced RCS 1.2 m2 fighter x 0.7
F-18E, Rafale 0.75 m2 fighter x 0.62
Eurofighter 0.25-0.75 m2 fighter x 0.47-0.62
Exocet, Harpoon missile 0.1 m2 fighter x 0.38
JSF (‘golf ball sized’
0.005 m2 fighter x 0.18
F-117, B-2, F-22 0.0001 m2 fighter x 0.07
F-117, B-2 F-22 also given as 0.01-0.001 m2, ‘marble sized’ or fighter x 0.12-0.21
F-22 RCS requirement was 1/1000th the F-15. This has probably be exceeded by a large margin. Even if the F-15 RCS is a large 25 m2, the F-22 is 0.025 m2 worst case (fighter x 0.26).
As can be seen ‘stealthy’ aircraft aim to reduce opposition situation awareness by decreasing detection range.
Situation Awareness