Stealth Technology

**Stealth Technology**, also termed **low observable technology** (**LO technology**), is a sub-discipline of military tactics and passive and active electronic countermeasures, which covers a range of methods used to make personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, missiles, satellites, and ground vehicles less visible (ideally invisible) to radar, infrared, sonar and other detection methods. It corresponds to military camouflage for these parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., multi-spectral camouflage).

## Description

The concept of stealth is to operate or hide while giving enemy forces no indication as to the presence of friendly forces. This concept was first explored through the camouflage to make an object's appearance blend into the visual background. As the potency of detection and interception technologies (radar, infrared searching, and tracking, surface-to-air missiles, etc.) have increased, so too has the extent to which the design and operation of military personnel and vehicles have been affected in response. Some military uniforms are treated with chemicals to reduce their infrared signature. A modern *stealth* vehicle is designed from the outset to have a chosen spectral signature. The degree of stealth embodied in a given design is chosen according to the projected threats of detection.

## Application and uses

### Ground

**Camouflage** to aid or avoid predation predates humanity itself, as hunters are using plants to conceal themselves and perhaps as long as people have been hunting. The earliest application of camouflage in warfare is impossible to ascertain.

Methods for visual concealment in the war were documented by Sun Tzu in his book *The Art of War* in the 5th century BC, and by Frontinus in his work *Strategemata* in the 1st century AD. Back during ancient times, they use their surroundings as an advantage mainly to conduct an ambush against their enemies.

The JGSDF uses uniforms with **mottled patterns** to conceal themselves and to avoid detection. Some units use **digital camouflage** patterns in their uniforms while the Special Forces use black suits in fighting inside buildings. Others are using face paint to add concealment. Snipers use **Ghillie suits** to further blend into their surroundings.

Since some countries in the New World are unfamiliar with intensive modern warfare like Qua-Toyne Principality, or Magicaraich Community, most military officers of these countries find camouflage suits worn by JSDF officers unappealing compared to their shining and gold-crafted armors and attires.

### Naval

Japanese submarines are coated with sound-suppression materials on their hulls, making them virtually undetectable by most sonar systems. The primitive Gra Valkas sonar is unable to pick up any of the JMSDF's subs. Hiding beneath the waves naturally gives the submarine the ability to hide from visual sight. Gra Valkas submarines are noisy and are easily detected. Not mention they expose themselves by rising to periscope depth. Additionally, the JMSDF submarine crew are very well-trained as they know that making a sound when submerging means they will give their position away to the enemy through sonar. A slight sound can make their position immediately exposed.

For surface fleets, ships are designed so that they have a small Radar Cross Section (RCS). One technique is the elimination of curved and perpendicular surfaces to avoid the ships have a large RCS. In addition to this, the JMSDF is using advanced sensors installed on their warships to fool the enemy radar further.

### Aviation

Back on Earth, the United States of America is the leading nation in terms of stealth aircraft technology, and as an ally of Japan, the Japanese benefited from US stealth technology to use it against her enemies in the New World.

Many methods the US has been used and incorporated in their aircraft through the years in order to minimize the RCS of an aircraft. One is the shape of the aircraft. This includes the use of angled surfaces. The first designs of stealth aircraft were designed with no curves in order to avoid radar reflection. An example of this is the F-117 Nighthawk, the first stealth fighter. Another is the use of a very radical design which is the so-called Flying Wing which is the elimination of the vertical tail. A good example of this is the Nazi Horten Ho-229 and the US B-2 Spirit. Stealth aircraft also incorporates burying the jet engine and exhaust within the fuselage or wings. The exhaust of these planes is also applied with special materials that reduce its heat signature to avoid detection by heat-seeking missiles. Missile bays are put inside the fighter. Examples of this are the F-22 Raptor and the YF-23 Blackwidow II. Parallel alignment of edges in another factor in considering stealth design. Examples of this are the tails and the leading edges of the aircraft must be parallel to one another as shown on the F-22 Raptor.

Aside from considering the shape of the aircraft, the use of so-called Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) to dissipate radar signals. This also includes coating the cockpit canopy with a thin film of a transparent conductor (made of vapor-deposited gold or indium tin oxide) to further improve the stealth capabilities of an aircraft since radar signal enters also in the cockpit. Also, one characteristic of a stealth aircraft is the embedded sensor on the aircraft's body to further disrupt and confuse the enemy's defenses to identity the flying object.

All these knowledge in aviation stealth are now trying to incorporate by the Japanese to their first domestically-developed stealth fighter, the 6th-generation F-3.

## Countering Stealth

Stealth can be countered by all means. However, to detect stealth was still considered a difficult task. When a stealth technology was developed, one must create a counter to ensure that they can also detect stealth units, aware that the enemy may also possess stealth technology.

Naval Warfare often happens as submarine crews are trained to deal with enemy destroyers and other flotillas that uses sonar to detect their submarines when submerged. Gra Valkas Empire's submarine crews are not trained to deal with this since their noisy submarine is already giving their own position to the sonar even when submerged. On the other hand, Japan's submarines remain undetected since the crew is trained to not make any noise should there is an enemy warship equipped with sonar are going after their submarine with addition possessing sound-suppression technology. As long as the crew remains still, the sonar won't pick them up.

The Louria Kingdom applies a medieval stealth method by sending their best assassin to blend into the night. Their effort, however, becomes futile when the JGSDF managed to found them using two methods. First, is by using Night Vision Goggles and second is using a flare to light up their position.