Forum: F-35 Armament, Stores and Tactics

Last edited by 1st503rdsgt on Aug 22, 2011 - 08:00 AM; edited 1 time in total

I might be of some assistance here as this happens to be my area of study. The actual warhead (known as the "physics package" in that field) does not emit enough radiation to be detectable at any appreciable distance because of background radiation and the neutron reflectors that surround the actual fizzle material. You'll probably get more radiation from a day at the beach than the guys in this picture ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:W80_n ... arhead.jpg ) who are handling a W-80 weapon similar to that used on the B-61.

Note: Look at the hand on the weapon to gauge its size, not the Hitler lookalike in the background.

F-16.net Sponsor

deleted

axaxaava wrote:

Thanks guys. Well, there was a Russian dude clamming that their radars are very powerful enough to detect anything emancipating from a jet. So a nuke on a jet is easily detected due to its radiation. Their radars even can detect any stealth fighter. He sited that an old Yugoslavian SA-3 Goa's (approx 20 yrs older than F-117) shot F-117 down. So, are those statements true?

Radar can't detect nuclear radiation first of all. Secondly, stealth doesn't mean invisibility- it just means that the range at which radars can detect it, are greatly reduced. The Yugoslavian SA-3 was only able to detect the F-117 due to the fact, that the crew knew the flight path beforehand, and were able to position themselves advantageously. Had they located a few miles away, they never would've seen it.

axaxaava wrote:

Thanks guys. Well, there was a Russian dude clamming that their radars are very powerful enough to detect anything emancipating from a jet. So a nuke on a jet is easily detected due to its radiation. Their radars even can detect any stealth fighter. He sited that an old Yugoslavian SA-3 Goa's (approx 20 yrs older than F-117) shot F-117 down. So, are those statements true?

He doesn't understand basic physics... the radiation you get from nuclear decay is made up of Alpha and Beta particles (not even electromagnetic waves, like radio or visible light), and Gamma rays, which are so different it would be like trying to see microwaves with your eyes.

Forum: F-35 Armament, Stores and Tactics

F-35 carrying B-61 tactical nuke compromises its stealth?