It's crazy how fighter aircraft maintenance is overlooked by the man on the street. It's takes a couple hundred hours to train a pilot, yet it takes thousands to train a technician. There's one pilot per plane, there are many techs per plane. It ain't the glory job, but a well trained mechanic is as important as any pilot.

I used to work in Aerospace. Your content is original, educational, and the best on the subject I've seen so far. Thank you for your excellent content!

The problem of the maintenance of coatings is an old story. Another Lockheed fighter was subject to the same issue leading into World War II. The Lockheed F-4 Lightning was the recipient of a special paint known as Cabot or Haze Paint. This paint was equally difficult to apply and maintain and subject to wear. Efforts to improve upon this yielded what was called Synthetic Haze paint which saw limited service on the F-5. In the end, the AAF switched to simply painting their photo-reconnaissance Lightnings with RAF PRU Blue which was often scrubbed off by ground crews to reduce the weight of the aircraft at the squadron level. Haze paint was such a problem that the AAF decided it was better to simply Shadow Shade paint their F-4 and early F-5 Lightnings in olive drab over grey. In the case of our squadron, 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, all of our F-5's were stripped at some point to natural metal. A very messy job! So coatings to help hide and obscure aircraft are an old issue and one which Lockheed has dealt with before. It makes one wonder if the Lightning II was intended to receive a new type of coating in the future as part of its modular design? I certainly hope so! Thanks for the excellent reporting and safe travels!

The first use of RAM was by the Germans in WW2 for u-boat mast head stealth. The Germans used both Jaumann absorbers and ferrites as well as a combination. These are still in use today. This is how the German Jauman absorber worked. It was optimized for allied 10cm (96% radar absorption) radar but worked quite well at 3cm (80% absorption) and fairly well at 25cm. To deal with 10 (actually 9cm) cm radar its thickness was 2.5cm which is a 1/4 wavelength. The material consisted of 7 cardboard sheets impregnated with exponentially increasingly dense of semiconducting graphite. The sheets were joined and impregnated with PVC to make them water tight and wrapped around the periscope or snorkel. The energy of a wave would be gradually absorbed by the semiconducting graphite much as a sea wave hitting the slope of a pebble beach. (as opposed to reflecting of a sea wall). The greatly attenuated wave still hit the the snorkel underneath and reflected but was absorbed on the way out. The small reflection on the surface of the Jaumann coating then cancelled out the reflection on the incoming wave. -Ferrites were molded into PVC for odd shapes where the jaumann absrober couldn't be wrapped. Some 30% was absorbed. By combining Jaumann and Ferrites a 99% absorption could be obtained.

The usual, outstanding analysis, well supported by detailed evidence. Warmest compliments. Thank you. :)

Keep up the great work Alex. You are one of the best at what you do.

Balanced, up to date and very informative. My compliments!

Another, factual, informative & interesting video. Very well written and presented. Well done Alex.

audio in your content has improved so much since i dmd you on twitter, glad seeing my favorite youtube series evolving!

Always ahead of the curve, Thanks Alex for all your work in bringing us tomorrow news.

Hi Alex, so glad you're available to flesh this out for me in detail. I have been expressing my interest in the newest ceramic RAM, as an article of faith, without knowing fully what its properties were, apart from being harder wearing, and less prone to high speed ablation.

Stay safe, Alex! I NEVER miss any of your episodes as they are so informative & entertaining AT THE SAME TIME! So, once again, STAY SAFE ON YOUR TRIPS, OK?

Fantastic video Alex. Always top notch content!

Awesome vid yet again. Congratulations on your success and look forward to seeing your next instalment.

One of your best videos in a long tome !!! Great job ! Very informative

USA is building a 6th gen stealth jet while Russia and China are STILL trying fix their inferior 5th gen fake-stealth SU-57 and J-20. 🤣

Exciting stuff. Thanks for another informative vid!

Stumbled on your channel a few months ago. Really impressed at your research. Would love to see an episode about the YF-23.

Thanks for another great video!

Excellent, as usual, Alex. Always enjoy your factual approach and your mastery of English which unfortunately seems to be lacking in most other venues these days.

Discussion of the new material which is referred to in the video title begins at 14:28.

As a Wolfpack grad, I'm really proud of the research NCSU is doing. Go Pack!

I use those same coatings, underwater, to absorb ultrasonics and to build ultrasonic transducers. The major mode is total internal reflection, rather than bulk thermo conversion.

Another great video, would love to know more about active flow control

Thanks Alex you always do a great job!

Something like that would really drop the reaction time for missiles as well and could really shake up a lot of strategy.

My second ship was an Arliegh Burke class. Deck department would be slowly driven insane taking care of the ram coating the Burkes, the first class of stealth ships have. I remember my first encounter with it, "Oh wow it's kinda spongy..." Poke, poke suddenly "HEEEEY!!!!!!!!! NOOOOO!!! Do not poke the RAM, you better not be a picker!" At that point they felt the only way to keep it safe was an extra watch whose sole job was keeping people from destroying the RAM apparently really bored people became compelled to pick at the RAM. Allegedly someone managed to pick an entire surface clean and our radar signature exploded. Our creative captain used it to advantage stating well no one is gonna look at our radar return and think it's a Burke.

Great video! Very interesting and informative.

Excellent news, thank you Alex.

Thanks for the idea for my materials science report!!!

Could there be a potential to combine this CRAM technology with the chrome coating being tested and used currently, or would it have to be one or the other?

Great video!

I've wondered if the hard points on jets and the missiles and weapons can be made steathy. So your not worried about loosing steath when weapon doors open. And your explanations of the maintenance of steath was very eye opening. I knew there was constant maintenance but wasn't aware of the speed limitations due to heat.

I like the show. I love the subject, and you presented the information very well. No immaturity or weird noises.

I loved it. You did great. Thank you.

The SU-57 should not be considered a stealth fighter. Look at those exposed rivets. Those engines The "mighty" dragon has canards. Let's get real lol

The advancement in RAM would be a game changer, great video, I have been playing DCS lately and I didn't yet the acronyms at all 5th generation stealth etc thank you for letting common people understand how these systems work

Nice summary - thanks for being honest about the real problems of F35!

Excellent content. Thank you

I have found your videos to be spot on one as well as they keep my full attention very Nicely done sir very well done indeed

One contention with this video and the issues with RAM along with failing at high speeds. As you said, operating above a certain speed is not allowed except for emergency. Well, that actually means fighting. You can actually train in aircraft where the coating is damaged or simply replaced with a coating that's durable. Then when you get into a real fight, you can move into position sub sonic which is the purpose of stealth. Once engaged it's one plane vs. the other, but even a plane with some damage to some surfaces is going to do better in a fight based on the weapons being used than a plane that has no stealth coatings or shapes. Yes, it will help to replace RAM as technologies allow, but the US military can train and fight with stealth in a way that isn't so financially draining, with the exception of aircraft on ships. Since pilots train from carriers, and a carrier needs to be 100% ready to fight when at sea in an operating theater, there's no way to train higher speed fighting without damaging materials. Having said that, you could shift Navy pilot training to shore facilities for high speed training and then once on ships, the training is about stealth.

Very fascinating topic!

Alex - thank you for breaking down the costs and impact of RAM. General public complain about shortages and/or lack of specific combat capabilities. I like how you stated “stealth funding and development is truly rich country problem’s”

Could you Please create a Vid about The Gun Pods on The F-35B and C and how much it affects radar cross-section🙏

Excellent news cast

Interestingly most of the effort is for a head on approach. Like the time the F117 was seen over the Baltic, they are still a big fairly flat object seen flying overhead from the ground. The coverage "paint" is interesting, but the are still physical visible to the Mark I eyeball and a pair of binoculars, and sound tracking. Also, they need to cover the tanker with this coating as well, or they can just track the tanker and wait for a fuel up to attack.

The future of stealth is hard to see

What's more important than the coating is the security of the server on which the formula is stored.

A Thicc15-C straight out of ceramakote....... I expect the layering is a bit more than just a coating of paint, maybe more like the polymer tapes used on antenna leading edges. Even then a harder coating more durable than paint would be a big change escpecially if it is a primer layer under a regular paint coating.

Outstanding breakdown.

Thank you. Very interesting.

I react on one thing here. Thick ceramic coat is mentioned in the end. Maybe they have a very good solution to this but in general ceramic when thick is not flexible. A dynamic part such as a flexing structure on an aircraft like a leading edge does not sound like they will work so well together. But it all depend on how this thick is. And how dependent the Radar absorbing ability is on its thickness. Also this will translate to ossues with bonding if it is an issue with thickness.

It gives me goosebumps to think of what the research labs are cooking up!!!!!

Love your videos. Thank you. Just wondering why in the world the Air Force allowed such a potentially groundbreaking discovery be disclosed so publicly. Not the question is will the Chinese or Russians get this in service before the US?

Excellent content! Just hope this new ceramic RAM doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Far too often adversaries get a hand on advanced research which could leave the US fighting against our own tech. I hope they are taking all precautions.

I love how you made the thumbnail look like a DoD PowerPoint

Now it makes sense as to why there have been so many problems with stealth aircraft.

I know that at this stage this is a rhetorical question, but will it be usable in lieu of the polymer RAM on existing stealth platforms like the F-35? Even if it's not, still sounds like a game changer for future platforms.

Hey Alex, love your content. Areyou are going to the Miramar air show next week?

This aircraft ceramic coating sounds a lot like the newer ceramic and graphene coatings available commercially for both professional and home car detailing. This car detailing technology is pretty incredible, when applied it can mean not having to wash and wax a car monthly(recommended). Assuming that a visible "liquid look" isn't as important as application time and protection, I can see how coatings including even a spray application can work on aircraft... A change of formulation would be necessary to increase the amount of ceramic or graphene particles, and to increase the curing time as necessary (for cars typically 2 minutes between coatings, 24hrs to a week for full curing). For cars, the result is usually an expected durability of 6-12 mths for the cheapest coatings and at least 7 years for the more expensive (typically approx $100 for 10 oz). Although car applications typically are extremely expensive due to needing a full day's work of prep and application, if an aircraft was less concerned about looks I'd imagine the process could be automated enough to achieve at least the same kind of durability at relatively low manual cost per application with its special, more concentrated formulation. This is not rocket science and it worries me a bit that the basic concept and maybe even a good part of the needed formulation is so widely and publicly available, but it also means that this extremely expensive and necessary cost component to fly stealth aircraft likely can be brought down very, very low to the cost of relatively common car detailing.

Can they apply the ceramic coating to existing fourth generation fighters like the F-15, F-16 and the A10? Would it be a benefit?

Thank You.

Off topic, but does anyone know when block 4 will be put into the f35? I’ve seen headlines saying it won’t be finished until 2029 but I thought the upcoming lots were supposed to begin fielding block 4. If anyone has any information on that it would be appreciated

What do you think of the rumoured 'chrome jet paint' trials? You should do a video on them. BTW, good job with this fascinating video :)

Sounds like a great development.

Hi Alex, I hope you are doing well. Provided these new ceramic stealth coatings prove out. How long do you think it will take to actually utilize this on our current and future stealth fighters? Also, could they extend the life of the F22 and possibly make current 4th gen fighters like the F16 more attractive as less expensive alternatives to the F35?

My only question on this is how much weight difference does this new RAM coating make? I would assume that on equivalent thicknesses as current polymer RAM, ceramic would be heavier, otherwise, if to reach eqivalent or higher stealth you dont need as thich a coating as polymer, could it potentially even be lighter?

As soon as you hear how hypersonic stealth fighters conceal their heat signature, please advise.

Showing off the SU-57 @ 6:56 , you can see the rivots in the plane (everywhere) , wouldn't that kill its stealthy capabilities?

Is the new coating similar to the "chrome" looking F22s and F35s we've been seeing out of Nellis?

Issue with ceramic is cracking. Rapid heating and cooling can crack it. Airframe stress can crack it. The cracks can be tracked and locked by high frequency targeting radars. It's like aerogel with nucleation sites that match the high band frequencies you want to entrap.

Great video. What I'd love to hear about is the current "Electronic Warfare Systems" that the USAF is employing in their S.E.A.D. jets.?? I used to be a Avionic Nav's & Comm's Specialist way back in the days of the old F- 4G Phantom II jet being used as a "Wild Weasel" platform. What I want to know is why has both the USAF & Navy gotten away from using tandem 2 seater jets like the F-4 and from what little info I know they both now use single seat F-16 & F/A-18 models to do the SEAD Wild Weasel missions ? Thanks again for everything you do , it is appreciated by many and more than you know. ~ ~ 🙂 TSS

This is the same paint we saw on the modified F22 that seemed to have glass on ?

Seems to go well with an adaptive cycle engine.

are you gonna talk about those mysterious mirror sheen F-117s and F-22s that have been spotted?

I am interested to know how much weight the new RAM will add versus the polymer

Problems will always exist, especially in the latest advances in technnology, however THIS is the way we learn, this is the way we advance..by overcoming those issues.

This could increase the viability and longevity of the b2, f22, as well as the f-15 silent eagle.

Love the badass new music!

I thought this video gonna talk about the recent news that the shiny panels/coating specifically and seen in F-22 has also been seen and being tested on F-35 too.

So with enough focus on radar absorption, would it be possible to for-go "geometric" stealth? Because the stealthier designs aren't exactly aerodynamic (at least not as much as earlier non-stealth aircraft).

It's like a variation on Occam's razor. The simplest explanation, the simplest solution, is usually the right one.

I feel like the B-21 Raider has this RAM on it. The way they described that the maintenance on the Raider would b lower and that they could deploy it in theater seems to suggest a new type of RAM on it.

Is that what that mirror finish is that's been seen on a few f22s lately?

What does RAM feel like to touch? Fine sandpaper? Or perfectly smooth?

Alex does it again! Great video, brother!

Right around 18:30, what are the big red dice in the hanger all about?

I just saw a chrome coating for increased stealth and durability. Where does this fit in the mix?

I used that academic paper to make some of this paint and now I can drive through speed traps at whatever speed I want

Ceramic RAM. F-15 Silent Eagle making a comeback, perhaps? Weapons that could be placed on hardpoints instead of internally?

BIG QUESTION!! is the F/A XX non thrust vectoring?

The J20 is not a stealth platform. An Indian Air Force colonel said that the Russian-made radar in his MIG picked them up easily at long ranges...nothing special...

I think those shiny chrome UFO spec F-22's that have been spotted flying around the desert likely have next gen RAM coatings that allow for greater number of finish options.

30 • What are the non-negotiable data outputs and where should I focus after addressing them? Prioritizing user groups and their data needs identifies the most critical outputs to address first, typically for senior decision-makers. Thinking more long-term and holistically, public asset owners should map data needs against their mandates and business strategy. • What visibility do I really need into my portfolio? Speed can be more important than accuracy in certain circumstances. For example, many asset owners complain that data for alternatives is less up to date than for equities, but timelines may not impede a total portfolio view for real estate data. Similarly, data preferences can differ by user group: Some data consumers need raw data, others require it checked, while others need official released data. The transformation process is also critical. A data transformation is a journey whose conditions and objectives often evolve. While multi-year and multi-million-dollar programs focus on the initial data problems to solve, data needs change and new challenges emerge. • The baseline: Understand how processes, people and data intersect from end to end Public asset owners need a clear and holistic view of their processes and how multiple data user groups, inputs and outputs intersect. Creating this view helps the institution break down organizational silos. • The endpoint: Establish the end state and the transition state A typical path to designing the end-state data model is to establish a target information model (TIM), a target architecture model (TAM) and a target operating model (TOM), along with a transition systems architecture (TSA) that bridges the gap between the baseline and the end state. • The mindset: Be agile and focus on outcomes Successful institutions adopt an agile or outcome-focused approach to design and implementation instead of tackling the entire universe of data. They focus, for instance, on a specific security’s flow throughout the organization, identify problems and solutions from this analysis and apply these lessons elsewhere as appropriate. This approach also enables adaptation as an institution’s data needs evolve over time. 31 Finally, transformation initiatives require people engagement----from institutional leaders to end-users to service providers. Each of these groups plays an instrumental role. • Leadership provides vision Interviewees at several public asset owners emphasized the critical role of leadership in driving data transformation projects. Although there is no consensus among interviewees about the value of a single institutional data czar, it is clear the C-suite must be fully onboard, if not leading data transformations. • Cultural change is important While a central data function can serve as a helpful incubator of data initiatives, data should be integral to everyone’s work. Public asset owners that have successfully transformed data use in their organizations have invariably deployed purposeful initiatives that encourage and reinforce data-driven decision-making. • The right providers contribute to success A successful data strategy involves collaborating with the right external entities, from data providers to custodians to key technology vendors. Success often depends on selecting the providers that are willing and able to collaborate in building a data-centric future. In particular, the right custodian can play a critical role as the source of an institution’s most fundamental data. Recently, custodians have enhanced their business models by integrating deeply with best-of-breed technology to deliver data integration, harmonization, aggregation and analytics. Data Must Move to the Core Data Must Move to the Core Interview Perspectives “It’s not just about the technology and systems. We also need to transform our mindset and our teams’ level of engagement when it comes to data.” Central Bank “Eventually, we won’t have data scientists sitting alongside our portfolio managers: our portfolio managers will be data scientists.” Public Pension Fund3031Focusing on Fundamentals: Cloud and Cybersecurity A data-centric operating model must have an adequate technology stack at its heart. The most frequently cited technology challenge is not cost or vendors but integrating new technology and tools. While innovations such as AI and robotics have yielded benefits for the front office, they have yet to do the same in the middle office. Strikingly, a more mature technology, namely, cloud, is still capturing outsized mindshare. Cybersecurity, with the potential to scale up or down in response to the geopolitical environment, alsodrive.google.com/file/d/1dsjaJXPWgfmkMQkTmL4VmLgSHvJu-wqp/view?usp=drivesdk Charts Guide (where the data from this tab is used in Charts tab) Name of Chart Parameter 1 Parameter 2 Total Miles Distance Miles Avg Pace Pace Fastest Time Time Distance Over Time Distance Miles Time Pace Over Time Pace Time Histogram of Elevation Elevation Feet Time Total Runs Type Where are you running? City Functions Guide LOOKUP (used in column C) to create category "=LOOKUP(HOUR(cell),{0,12,18,21},{""Morning"",""Afternoon"",""Evening"",""Night""})&"" Run""" CONVERT (used in D and H) to desired unit "=CONVERT(E2, ""m"", ""mi"")" QUERY (used in Top 10 Runs tables in Charts tab) to ask a question and filter data from Data tab "=QUERY(Data!A2:I89, ""select A,B,D,F,I where (C = 'Morning Run') order by I limit 10"",0)" "=QUERY(Data!A2:I89, ""select A,B,D,F,I where (C = 'Evening Run') order by I limit 10"",0)"

Cerâmic cover painting is the ultimate material, like grafen for computers or any other developmental materials for storing energy for instance. Keep its alloys and chemical components secret.

Is it possible to put a request forward here for a video topic? The shadowy world of active radar absorption through exotic means, like Cesium fuel additives to the SR-71, or also (less talked about), producing electric fields with emitters on the leading edges that create charge potentials to deflect / absorb the EM wave. I don't see that talked about much at ALL, and it's a wildly forward thinking concept. Stealth forcefields! I have a feeling that tech might be on the B-2 but highly classified. When pilots allude to putting the bomber in "stealth mode", they don't elaborate on what that really means.

do hypersonic frames heat up enough to become IR targets themselves?

1080p please, I dream of 4k from this channel.

I believe the future of stealth coatings will be graphene, though modern ceremics are truly amazing, in so many totally different fields.

wow, this is impressive