Stealth plasma could challenge 75 years of air defense strategy

The US’ first solar-powered roadside sound barrier systems will power 100 houses. Meet the Saab ‘Gripen’: the fighter jet you’ve never heard of. Nov 06, 2021 # Good day! The state of Massachusetts might soon become the first state to install solar-powered roadside sound barriers. The aim is to utilize the untapped space to generate enough power for about 100 homes. Apart from that, we look up in the sky and set our eyes on a relatively-obscure fighter jet, the SAAB JAS 39 "Gripen" (Griffon). And while looking up, we will also address an interesting issue that challenges the way we've been doing aerial defense for the last 75 years. This is The Blueprint. Happy Reading. INNOVATION [Meet the Saab 'Gripen': A Powerful Fighter Jet You've Never Heard Of]( [Saab 'Gripen']( You might not have heard of the SAAB JAS 39 "Gripen" (Griffon) but it just might be one of the most capable non-stealth jet fighters ever built. Designed to replace the SAAB 35 "Viggen" and SAAB 37 "Draken", the JAS 39 officially [entered service in 1997](. Its story goes all the way back to the 1970s when the Swedish government decided to investigate the possibility of developing a multirole fighter that was deemed necessary to keep the Swedish Airforce relevant into the future. After a brief [flirtation with the American F-16]( and F18 fighters, it was decided to engineer and build their own design domestically instead. How was it built? The aircraft was designed and built as part of a joint effort by an industrial consortium that consisted of SAAB, SAAB Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson), Volvo Aero Corporation, SAAB Avitronics, and FFV Aerotech. The resulting aircraft was the first Swedish multirole combat aircraft – capable of conducting interception, ground-attack, and reconnaissance. How advanced was it? An example of a highly capable fourth-generation fighter, the JAS 39 had the latest in digital controls, and weapons systems available at the time. What were its specs? The "Grippen" is powered by a Volvo RM12 after-burning turbofan engine that is capable of pumping out 54 kN (12,000 lbf) thrust dry or 80.5 kN (18,100 lbf) with an afterburner. This engine gives the aircraft [a top speed of Mach 2]( and an effective combat range of about 497 miles (800 km). She can also operate up to 9.47 miles (15.24 km) above sea level. [Read More]( TRANSPORTATION [The US’ First Solar-Powered Roadside Sound Barrier Systems Will Power 100 Houses]( [roadside barriers]( The state of Massachusetts might become the first to install the first-ever [solar-powered roadside sound barrier](. Designed by a local company called Ko-Solar, this innovative system will replace old regular barrier panels [with solar ones](. Ko-Solar has worked to develop a pilot project with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to put solar panels on a half-mile stretch of sound barriers on the interstate. This will be achieved by attaching a metal grid to the sides of around 160 existing concrete sound barriers on the southbound side of the I-95. How will the panels capture the sun’s energy? The grid will not only mount the panels to the sound barriers, but it will allow them to be angled to maximize solar capture during the day. The panels will be installed on the roadside face of the barrier. How much power will the system produce? It is expected that this innovative pilot project will be able to generate around 800 megawatt-hours of power every single year. Not bad for what is normally wasted space. It should also be enough power to supply electricity to 100 homes. Are there any pitfalls? The project does have some potential pitfalls. The sound barrier solar installation will be [closely monitored by the state]( to ensure that the metal grids do not affect the structural integrity of the sound barriers. They also want to know how the local weather may, or may not, affect the sound barriers too. It is also important to find out if the panels may introduce a potential glare risk to drivers. This interesting project will be the first of its kind in the United States and is expected to go live sometime in the spring of 2022. [Read More]( INNOVATION [Stealth Plasma Could Challenge 75 Years of Air Defense Strategy]( [Stealth Plasma]( In our [October 19, 2021 story]( we quoted Kremlin deputy premier Yury Borisov saying "We have broken forward, specifically, in the sphere of hypersonic weapons and (those) based on new physical principles." Well, as it turns out, the "new physical principles" in question might not be so new after all. A recent UFO encounter showed that plasma stealth can make objects invisible to radar. Now, that's a lot to take in, so, we have to trace our steps back and start with the plasma part. Plasma is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. It's the most abundant form of regular matter (that is, excluding dark matter and dark energy). It's found in abundance in stars, [including our Sun](. From neon signs to a lit match, we have a wide array of everyday uses for it too. Plasma stealth is the use of an ionized gas, or plasma, to reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) of an object, such as an aircraft. We can get plasma by heating a neutral gas, or by subjecting a gas to a strong electromagnetic field. - The presence of free-charged particles within a plasma makes it electrically conductive and responsive to externally applied electromagnetic fields. - It has been shown to [interfere with radar waves](. Do you see where this is going? The principles of plasma stealth were first outlined in 1956 by a General Electric engineer named Arnold Eldredge. During the '60s, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) funded a project that aims to reduce the radar cross-section of U.S. recon planes, specifically the Lockheed A-12. Supposedly, the idea was to use a cesium-laced fuel additive to significantly reduce its engine’s radar signature, and an electron beam to generate a cloud of ionization in front to help conceal its rear aspect from radar waves. The system was tested but was never deployed operationally. [Inside the article]( we explain what properties of radar technology we are exploiting to make things 'invisible' and what does it have to do with UFOs. [Read More]( [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Tugboats: Tiny Saviors That Can Move Giant Vessels]( It's the function that matters, not the size. [Tugboats: Tiny Saviors That Can Move Giant Vessels]( MAIL & MUSINGS It's clear that plasma can be utilized to conceal large objects from radar scans. The CIA even experimented with it in the '60s. Do you think nation-states have plasma stealth capabilities? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Yes, but it's not advanced enough to use against adversaries yet.]( [Yes, they're using it in the field and it's so stealthy that nobody has a clue.]( [Yes, it explains the surge in UFO sightings.]( [No, humans will never be capable of plasma stealth]( Yesterday’s Results We know that tech giants are pouring big money into quantum. So yesterday, we asked "When will quantum computing live up to its hype?". 72% of you combined are somewhat hopeful. 42% believe we should give it another 10-30 years, and 38% believe it will do much more than we can imagine real soon. 11%, on the other hand, think the field is overpromising and, finally, 10% think we're nearing an end on breakthroughs. In 10 to 30 years. 42% Soon. It’ll do much more than we can ever imagine. 38% Never! The field is overpromising. 11% Quantum computing advances are nearing an end. 10% AND ANOTHER THING... - Bill Gates says [a global pandemic task force]( that’s worth billions is needed. - A new antitrust suit from Phhhoto accuses Facebook of [copying and killing the competition](. (Yahoo Finance) - The [world’s first antiviral COVID-19 pill]( was just approved in the UK. - [Does scream therapy work]( The real science behind the controversial method. (Inverse) - A Japanese inventor built a machine that [turns plastic bags into oil](. - 1.8 TB of police [helicopter surveillance footage leaked online](. (Wired) - Turns out the LA ‘jetpack man’ from 2020 [was a balloon](. QUOTE OF THE DAY “ The power and majesty of the nature of the universe at every turn lacks credence if one’s mind embraces parts of it only and not the whole. ” Pliny the Elder - In Pliny: Natural History (1947), Vol. 2, Book 7, 511, as translated by H. Rackham Prepared by Loukia Papadopoulos and Utku Kucukduner Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? [Subscribe]( [About Us]( | [Advertise]( | [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe [here.]( © Copyright 2021 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]