LOW OBSERVABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE SURFACE COMBATANTS

The naval shipbuilding community is in the initial steps of the widespread application of low observable technology. The aerospace community has several decades of experience with the research, development, design integration and production of low observable technologies into aircraft and other platforms. This paper will address the basics of radar cross section (RCS) reduction with an emphasis on their applications to surface ships. The possibility for affordable and timely adaptations of the aerospace experience to naval shipbuilding challenges will be addressed. The basic definition and characteristics of radar scattering will be described along with a discussion of the benefits of reduced radar cross section. Methods for reducing RCS and budgeting for reduction goals will be discussed. These methods include shaping and the use of radar absorbing materials. The properties of absorbing materials and their integration in composite structures will be discussed, along with issues of performance evaluation and design integration.