Lockheed Stealth: The Evolution of an American Arsenal - Hardcover

Sweetman, Bill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760308527 ISBN 13: 9780760308523

Publisher: Zenith Press, 2001

Synopsis

When it comes to stealth technologies, Lockheed Martin has unarguably outpaced its peers in design and deployment. This in-depth look at the development of Lockheed's stealth program explains how Skunkworks designers and engineers have minimized and even eliminated radar, thermal, acoustic, and radar signatures in the F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor, and X-35 Joint Strike Fighter contender. Illustrated with photos from Lockheed archives and private collections, the story begins with the origins of stealth in 1974 and continues through the current service and battle records of the F-117 and F-22, as well as the design and testing of X-35 prototypes vying with Boeing's X-32 for the Pentagon's Joint Strike Fighter contract. Respected aviation author Bill Sweetman also explains the technologies and design elements that allow an aircraft to evade detection, and looks ahead to the future of stealth technology in projects like the Comanche helicopter and Sea Shadow warship.

About this title

Review

Here is another title that will be of interest to modern combat analysts and contemporary historians. Bill Sweetman has released an interesting perspective titled 'Lockheed Stealth'. What is refreshing is that rather than walk through all of the interesting aircraft that Lockheed has either outright developed or served as the design team lead, he puts each aircraft into perspective with unique prototypes, design competitors, etc. Coverage begins with early reconnaissance aircraft, also developed by Lockheed, needed to penetrate adversary air defenses and take pictures. These early marvels include the U-2 and SR-71 manned reconnaissance aircraft as weill as a number of Ryan-made drones. With the improved air defenses that were being fielded each year, stealth came of its own in technologies to reduce (or ideally eliminate) an aircraft's radar cross-section. One of the first breakthroughs was Lockheed's HAVE BLUE which eventually led to the production of the F-117 Nighthawk. Development of stealth continued with the aborted A-12 Avenger, the Northrop B-2, the TACIT BLUE, and the advanced cruise missile. The famous face-off between the Lockheed-Martin F-22 and the Northrop F-23 comes into detail next, followed by the equally interesting face-off between the Lockheed-Martin X-35 and Boeing's X-32. Coverage concludes with a look into the future with unmanned stealth aircraft being developed by the Skunk Works. The author provides a well-written and nicely illustrated roadmap of past, present and future unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). As was mentioned above, coverage begins with the Radioplanes which were the first UAVs from WW2 that were used as targets for naval anti-aircraft gunners. The technology evolved into the Firebee and Chukar UAVs which were targets and sensor platforms during the Vietnam war era. These, in turn, led to the current family of Hunters, Predators and Global Hawks in use today. Coverage looks into the future as well with the X-45 and X-47 vehicles and the Fire Hawk. The coverage of this informative title is presented as follows:. Stealth Before Stealth HAVE BLUE and the Advent of Stealth Shape, Shape, Shape, and Materials Building the Stealth Fighter The 1980s Dream Projects ATF to F-22 JSF - a Stealth Fighter for the World Meanwhile, at the Skunk Works This is a nicely compiled and presented title that puts these significant aircraft into perspective and shows how Lockheed has dominated the stealth market. This title is highly recommended! --CyberModelerOnline

Synopsis

This unprecedented examination of the development of Lockheed's stealth program explains in depth how Skunkworks designers and engineers minimize and even eliminate radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures in the U-2, F-117, F-22, and X-35. Illustrated with photos from the company's archives and private collections, Sweetman gives current service and battle records of these planes, and describes the technologies and design elements that help these aircraft avoid detection.

Edition details

• Publisher: Zenith Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0760308527
• ISBN 13: 9780760308523
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 165