Using mercury to foil radar

[kevingross]

If you can get the planet Mercury between you and the trooper, yeah, that should work.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Discseven

Am not implying mercury works to foil radar or doesn't. Was questioning if there was any metallurgical basis for it working. To put it nonscientifically, could be mercury has some property that is "interesting" to radar---even in a small amount---and at same time disruptive to the calculations radar makes.

What?? Mercury does have some properties that are interesting to radar...as do all elements.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by kevingross

If you can get the planet Mercury between you and the trooper, yeah, that should work.

Mercury is one 'hot-hot' place.

[john walker's workshop]

I had a stealth 49 cadillac convertible with no flat reflective surfaces. Went through lots of radar traps in the 10 years it was my daily and never got popped. Like to think it was the curvy body, but maybe it was soo cool looking, they gave me a pass.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DonNewton

So the mercury changes the dynamics of a 3000# car? Short answer: NO.

If the vial was 2'x6' and mounted to the grill of the car, then why not?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by IROC

We have about 420 gallons (43,000 lbs) at work if you'd like to try it out.

Do you have a diving board too?

I hear it's great for soaking in like a hot tub. Us humans sink like a rock in the stuff!

[pmax]

Another thread bites the dust.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

[stevej37]

[pwd72s]

Love my V-1...

[Eric Coffey]

Yes, Mercury can help you jam and spoof radar. Just give them a call/email: https://www.mrcy.com/drfm-technology/

Probably `spensive tho...

[RKDinOKC]

Saw a car with various colors of flat black paint and flat gray primer. Obviously mid-repaint. Asked owner curious as to what color he was going to paint it. He said it was painted now, it's stealth.

[Drbraunsr]

Not sure if it's a fixit ticket in CA. My 3rd son (Sgt of a local LA dept) heard I was thinking of a jammer and he told me it was a felony (tampering with an officer's equipment).
He was really serious about it.
I would suggest some research before buying and using...

[unclebilly]

My first car was a Mercury... it was plenty able to be detected by radar...

[svandamme]

It's true.. each F22 and F117 has a vial of mercury dangling in front of the hud to confuse enemy SAMs and Radar homing AA missiles..

It's top secret, and they hide the vial when parked at airshows...


That's actually why they banned the use of mercury
1 to get the mercury for themselves
2 to avoid rooskies from getting it

[911_Dude]

The mercury trick has to work at least as well as turbo twister exhaust tips.

[RNajarian]

All jokes aside . . .

It does (or should) bring up the conversation the effects various surfaces have on the reflectivity of radar against a flat surface. Our stealth aircraft are coated with certain composites that absorb radar, thereby decreasing the Radar signature. The same profile not coated would obviously have a larger signature.

Obviously a solid metal will have a noticeable signature, I wonder what the signature would be on a liquid metal in a controlled environment? Does it absorb the radar, reflect, or scatter?

Once Karl is finished with his latest project I bet the tackles this one.

I look forward to the results.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

All jokes aside . . .

It does (or should) bring up the conversation the effects various surfaces have on the reflectivity of radar against a flat surface. Our stealth aircraft are coated with certain composites that absorb radar, thereby decreasing the Radar signature. The same profile not coated would obviously have a larger signature.

Obviously a solid metal will have a noticeable signature, I wonder what the signature would be on a liquid metal in a controlled environment? Does it absorb the radar, reflect, or scatter?

Once Karl is finished with his latest project I bet the tackles this one.

I look forward to the results.

The materials do absorb a little of the RADAR, but they are designed to scatter the reflection away from the radar unit. A liquid metal that is applied to any surface will be blown off the aircraft long before it get up to cruise speed.

As mentioned in an earlier post, if it had a remote possibility of working the folks at DARPA and then the military would be all over it. Besides the fact that mercury is a deadly metal for the pilot, mechanic and the hangar much less the overall environment. It is just a silly mental exercise.

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The materials do absorb a little of the RADAR, but they are designed to scatter the reflection away from the radar unit. A liquid metal that is applied to any surface will be blown off the aircraft long before it get up to cruise speed.

As mentioned in an earlier post, if it had a remote possibility of working the folks at DARPA and then the military would be all over it. Besides the fact that mercury is a deadly metal for the pilot, mechanic and the hangar much less the overall environment. It is just a silly mental exercise.

You misunderstood my post. I’ve flown quite a bit in my time and understand the Science of aerodynamics aircraft aircraft materials.

I am not suggesting coating an aircraft with mercury, merely curious in a controlled lab environment how different materials affect radar waves which I believe was Karl’s original question.