Quote:
Originally Posted by billybek
Why are millions spent on stealth technology when all you have to do is turn off the transponder?
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Transponders send out information to receivers.
Usually civillian radar receivers do not search with a beam, but rather collect data from the tranponders and display it on a screen which will show position and, by querying the individual "blips" can display other information broadcast
Military radar sends out a beam of energy which is reflected off objects back to a receiver and the information is compiled to give an estimate of size and position of the object reflecting the energy.
Stealth technology reduces the amount of energy returned to the receiver which allows the object to get closer to the radar receiver before it is detected or disguises the size of an object.
Imagine if you will, standing on a hill with a light, looking for someone the field around you. If that other someone had their own light, you would instantly know where they were. That's a transponder.
If your light reflected off a shiney surface, a jacket or their face and you were able to see them, you have the equivalent of search radar. If however, they took careful pains to dress in flat black and hide all reflective surfaces, that is "stealth"
Hope this helps.
Best
Les