The F-35s Stealthy Radar is the key to its success

[Etx-z]

Isn't it crazy how humanity even managed to figure this stuff out?
Collectively, we can create things that start to look like straight-up wizardry.

[JojoenFilms]

One important thing to note here:
While the diagram shown illustrating how a phased array antenna works is correct, the symbols used here are typically indicative of a “Passive Electronically Scanned Array” (PESA). You can see this as the nodes are marked “φ”, which usually represents individual phase shifters. This means all the nodes have one shared transmitter and receiver, and the phase shifters are controlled by a separate unit.

The F-35s AN/APG-81 however, does not use PESA, but an “AESA” (Active Electronically Scanned Array), where each node has a dedicated transmitter/receiver, making it much less prone to being jammed and have a faster scan rate, meaning it can track multiple targets.
You might even say that the PESA is quite outdated.

Although the video isn’t wrong by calling this a “phased array”, I think it’s misleading to put it in when explaining the F-35s radar technology.
Just my two cents.

[detroxx]

The amount of mathematical calculations that's going on in the radar's processor must be absolutely nuts

[bbmw]

Electronic beam steering is only part of stealth radar. These radars are also spread spectrum / frequency agile. This means they shift transmission frequencies often (up to thousands of times a second.) So if a tracker is listening on one frequency, they'll seldom get a signal from this radar. If they try listening on many frequencies at once, not knowing where this particular radar is (which is what they're trying to figure out), they'll have to deal with all the noise on the frequency band from all the other transmitters. So figuring out which transmissions come from the radar they'll looking for will be highly problematic.

[catin]

The same feature is used in modern telecom. It's called beamforming. Present in 5G and Starlink, allowing fixed antenna act as satellite tracking. All is made by super fast electronic signal processing.

[gregoryfrech]

Phased array antennas were already in wide military use in the 1980s. Hence the inroduction of what used to be called Flat Dish antennas.

[MrJdsenior]

The FLIR can get WAY out there through good weather, too, and it is TOTALLY passive. You would be surprised how far.

[SarveshKumarMishra]

It's simple similar to active noise cancellation but matching destructive pattern at the speed of radio waves is phenomenal. It includes recieving and generating inverse of it at that rate!

[AugmentedGravity]

This is one of the most advanced AESA radars in service today.

[hazard]

Just a hunch, but this is probably how LRAD's directional sound works

[smacman]

The computer that is controlling those peaks and valleys and displaying information to the pilots is also a miracle of science.

[uNails]

If you buy a Starlink dish, you essentially have the consumer version of this array. You can track and communicate with satellites using a stationary dish.

[RM]

This is the best explanation I've seen of what a phased array radar is.

[jaromirandel]

This is how most AESA radars work. The main purpose of this is to get rid of mechanical parts. This makes the radar much more reliable and faster. Because if you don't have to physically move anything, you don't have to wait for it to move.

[vesawuoristo]

As a Finn living in the US, it is very nice to know the Finnish Airforce will use these great planes.

[hullinstruments]

Similar in theory to why the seperate pieces of wood which will be assembled into an acoustic guitar....are tunef to match a similar resonance.... You get a great leap in tone and sustain

[Waschbaer_Mann]

Pilot:
"WHO TF PUT THE RADAR ON MAX SENSITIVITY???"

[CancelMeNow]

My dad worked on a similar thing for his Physics degree. Not sure how it worked but it was something to make sure when allies are trying to relay something on to the plane, the signal or something didn't flatline as shown.

[koreanjesus]

The Morty waves help hide the Rick waves

[lbgstzockt]

In fact you can use one radar system to look in multiple directions at once by dividing the antennas into groups and driving the in different directions, that way you can also listen on different frequencies at the same time.