Ben Rich, the head of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, pivoted from developing a stealth submarine, called the Sea Shadow, to creating a novel surface craft after the Defense Department's lack of interest in underwater stealth technology. The Sea Shadow's design employed angular shapes to minimize sonar detection and employed radar-absorbing materials for stealth strategies. Following successful tests against simulated radar, the Pentagon endorsed further development, leading to a prototype of the vessel that exemplified innovative stealth engineering while adapting to operational realities in naval warfare during the Cold War.
Ben Rich and his Skunk Works team innovated a stealth submarine concept, transforming it into a futuristic surface vessel after the Defense Department expressed no need for underwater stealth.
The Sea Shadow utilized angular hull design to effectively reduce radar visibility, aligning its development with the stealth principles established in the Nighthawk fighter.
Collection
[
|
...
]