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• The U.S. Navy has developed a stealth surface ship that costs $ 50 million and has never been put into operation.

• The corner surface of the sea shadow inspires the design of the Zumvalt stealth destroyer.

• Its influence also lasted on a new two -body ship designed for offshore combat.

The Cold War was the golden age of stealth technology, because the U.S. military invested high systems and capabilities to make the Soviet Union occupy the upper hand.

Driven by the Soviet Union’s progress in radar and missile systems, the U.S. military surpassed the visibility of the radar to the aircraft that only designed the radar ammunition, such as the F-117 Nighthawk of Lockheed Martin, this, this It was the first Statta fighter.

However, the U.S. Navy also tried to cast its sights into the water, trying to create the first stealth boat that could not be detected by radar and Sonar. The Navy has never discovered the purpose of a unique ship. The design of the ship was ahead of the times and told the creation of the Zumwalt -class stealth destroyer.

Its influence also lasted on a new two -body ship designed for offshore combat.

Invisible submarine to the ground boat

Ben Rich, the director of the Lockhed Skull work at the time, decided to apply the F-117’s invisible coatings and edges and corners to the submarine.

Rich and his Skunk Works team-industry leaders in the field of stealth design-developed a small model, which is called “sea shadow” to test indoor in sound room. They found that the angle of the cigar -shaped hull was designed from the sound of the crew and the engine.

Repeated test

However, the Ministry of National Defense did not find that underwater invisible spacecraft was required, prompting Rich to design to adapt to a small waters’ double hull, which is a kind of surface container on the ship -style American fleet.

The Pentagon stated that his interest in the stealth surface boat model of RICH was authorized to reach a contract of 50 million US dollars through the National Defense Senior Research Project Bureau to “test the impact of stealth shape and coating on the surface boat and the seawater on the absorption radar to absorb iron ore coatings. Influence, “According to Lockchid Martin.

The highest secret development

The Soviet reconnaissance satellite network may reveal the position of the U.S. Navy ground fleet. Inspired by Nighthawk, the sea surface has a 45 -degree angle of sharp angle and peaceful surface to reduce the radar visibility of the ship and avoid detection.

Invisible concepts were tested in the 100 X 80 -foot plastic swimming pool in California Death Valley in California. Successful testing has won more funds in the project to develop the prototype of Haiying.

The sea shadow developed under strict secrets was modularly built. Before the smaller part of the ship was built into a subtraction of California, a smaller part was built.

The 164 -foot ship can accommodate four -person crew members composed of commanders, helmsmen, navigators and engineers. The diesel push system makes the ship reach the speed of up to 15 knots, that is, about 17 miles per hour.

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SEA Shadow’s prototype aims to test the application of stealth technology at sea and explore the performance of its invisible ability in reality.

However, invisible ships are a one -time prototype, with limited functions, strange, and unconventional design, so for general use, its practicality is reduced. Without the flexibility or characteristics of other multifunctional ships in the naval fleet, the shadow of the sea surface will not be seen.

After sitting in a warehouse for nearly thirty years in a private shipyard in San Diego, the Navy provided sea shadow to the museum for free, but no interviewer. Instead, it was sold for 95 % in 2012 with a maximum bid of $ 2.5 million and was demolished and scrapped.

Lasting heritage

Although the prototype itself is not suitable for the continuous development of the navy, it does provide valuable insights to the adaptation of stealth technology. The lessons learned from Hairiye contributed to more advanced stealth ships and systems, such as Zumvalt -class destroyers.

Although the expensive Zumwalt course has been working hard to find appropriate tasks and weapons for a long time, they have similar stealth characteristics to the sea surface, such as low radar cross sections and horned shapes to achieve greater survivability and effectiveness in the modern navy war. Essence

Universal Power Ghost

The design of Sea Shadow is also similar to the new ship. The Ghost is developed by General Dynamics and is designed for unplugged ships for coastal defense, special operations and anti -pirate patrols. It can improve or reduce its wings to achieve low visibility, high -speed or stability.

This 62 -foot drone has a four -foot -shallow coastal combat. Its hybrid turbine and electric drives make the ship reach the highest 32.5 knots, which is about 37 miles per hour. A general dynamic manual says that it has two “stealth” mode.

Not only can the ghost modify the task suitable for hand (such as carrying missiles or ferry 16 seals), but also the pilots and navigates can be operated on the boat, remote control or as an independent platform for programming.

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