Mixed design of radar/infrared stealth for advanced fighter intake and exhaust system

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.106490
• Publication Date: 2021-01-12T12:03:03Z
• Authors: Zeyang Zhou; Jun Huang
• Keywords: Radar cross-section; Baffle

Abstract With the continuous development and enhancement of anti-stealth technology, fighters will be increasingly threatened by joint detection of radar and infrared detectors. To improve the overall stealth performance of the aircraft's intake and exhaust systems, a mixed design approach (MDA) is presented to reduce the aircraft's radar cross-section (RCS) and suppress infrared signature. Full factorial design method is used to establish the aircraft model, taking into account the influencing factors of the air intake model, nozzle stages, exhaust port form, lower baffle, center baffle, lateral baffle and nozzle opening width. The physical optics and physical theory of diffraction are used to solve the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the target, and the Monte Carlo and ray tracing method are used to solve the infrared radiation signature of the system. After comprehensive evaluation and selection of MDA, the RCS mean index and tail RCS index of the optimized aircraft model have been effectively reduced, and the infrared radiation index has also been greatly improved. MDA is effective and efficient in terms of radar/infrared integrated stealth design for the intake and exhaust systems of advanced fighters.