niaz
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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Popularity of the stealth technology is because it minimizes radar signature of the object. Smaller the radar signature, more difficult is to see and hence more difficult to fight; for the simple reason that if you can’t see an arrow or the missile coming at you, you can’t dodge it or shoot it down.
No doubt there is nothing totally invisible to radar. Natural rule dictates that as soon as one develops a new weapon, pressure is on to develop its antidote. Understand new Passive radars can detect distortion in the signals in the radio broadcast waves caused by the passage of the aircraft. Question however remains as to how accurately it can be done? Is passive radar as effective as normal radar and can passive radar be jammed? One would only know for sure if two nations possessing stealth technology as well as passive radar engage in war.
In my view, stealth technology is a ‘Plus’ such as thrust vectoring or BVR technology, enabling you to shoot at your enemy before he has a chance to defend or shoot back. If your enemy possess stealth aircraft, you should acquire as well to even the odds and even if your enemy does not have, you should acquire the same nonetheless to be able to defeat the enemy. Either way, one cannot get away from it.
I would therefore conclude that obsolete or not; expensive or not; it would be a must for the PAF to acquire stealth aircraft soon; say within 5 years else country’s air defence would be seriously compromised.
No doubt there is nothing totally invisible to radar. Natural rule dictates that as soon as one develops a new weapon, pressure is on to develop its antidote. Understand new Passive radars can detect distortion in the signals in the radio broadcast waves caused by the passage of the aircraft. Question however remains as to how accurately it can be done? Is passive radar as effective as normal radar and can passive radar be jammed? One would only know for sure if two nations possessing stealth technology as well as passive radar engage in war.
In my view, stealth technology is a ‘Plus’ such as thrust vectoring or BVR technology, enabling you to shoot at your enemy before he has a chance to defend or shoot back. If your enemy possess stealth aircraft, you should acquire as well to even the odds and even if your enemy does not have, you should acquire the same nonetheless to be able to defeat the enemy. Either way, one cannot get away from it.
I would therefore conclude that obsolete or not; expensive or not; it would be a must for the PAF to acquire stealth aircraft soon; say within 5 years else country’s air defence would be seriously compromised.