Skunk Works ,Stealth Camouflage1965-Present

Skunk Works ,Stealth Camouflage 1965-Present

Lockheed’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), better known as Skunk Works, is the company’s secretive R&D unit in charge of developing highly classified advanced aircraft designs. It has been a pioneer in developing high-altitude reconnaissance platforms like the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes as well as stealth aircraft like the F-117. Skunk Works designs were among the first to put in practice radar absorbent coatings, the first of which was known as Black Velvet. This paint, initially applied to U-2 spy planes in 1965, was composed of small glass beads and metal particles which helped reduce light reflections and also had some moderate effect on reducing radar reflections. Black Velvet was followed up by Iron Ball paint which further developed its radar reflectivity properties by using carbonyl iron or ferrite particles suspended in an epoxy paint that deflected and dissipated radar waves, converting them into heat. It was applied to spy planes like the U-2, A-12, and SR-71. The F-117, introduced in the 1980s, was the first true stealth aircraft and featured a further development of Iron Ball which, although still classified, is believed to consist of carbon black or ferrite particles on a neoprene foil glued to the aircraft using a special adhesive. Visually speaking, it appears virtually identical to Blue Velvet and Iron Ball all of which most closely resemble FS 37038 Black. .

Another aircraft to use Iron Ball coatings is Northrop’s B-2 bomber. Its coating is notable for having a slightly satin sheen to it in contrast to the very matt predecessors as well as being noticeably lighter. It is almost certainly intended to match FS 36118 Medium Gunship Gray which by the time of the B-2’s introduction in 1997 had become the standard color of the USAF’s strategic bomber fleet. However, most photos that show the B-2 next to other bombers show it to have a slightly different shade gray, possibly closest in practice to FS 36099 Dark Blue Gray. Since the 2000s, B-2 have used a new coating developed by Northrop known as Alternate High Frequency Material (AHFM) but appears visually similar to its predecessor. It is unclear (to this author) whether this is a further development of Iron Ball or uses a separate radar absorption technology.

Aeroplane

F-16 Fighting Falcon

B-1 Lancer

F-117 Nighthawk

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit

Paint guide:

Iron Ball (Lockheed):A basic flat black will do. Although it is often recommended to paint black aircraft with a slightly lighter color like FS 37030, the F-117 invariably looked black as night due to the necessary upkeep needed to keep its stealth coating effective.

Iron Ball (Northrop): This is probably intended to approximate FS 36118 although FS 36099 (unfortunately quite rare) could be used as an alternative to add some variety of shades.