๐ฎ๐ท NEW: Iranian air defenses are likely able to detect and engage F-35 stealth fighters, according to recent tests
In a recent exercise, the fire-control radar of Iran's 'Bavar-373' air defense system intercepted a 'Karrar' drone at a distance of 316 kilometers, with a radar cross-section of 2,14 square meters or 3.22 decibels. (Image of this interception attached above).
It it is not clear at what range the initial detection took place, but according to this data, the fire-control radar of the Bavar-373 can detect a flying target with a radar cross-section of 0.01 meters from a distance of 82km, or a target with a radar cross-section of 0.05 meters from a distance of 123km.
Now, let's assume that this system, the Bavar-373, is equipped with an L-band radar, for example like the TPY-4, and its detection capability is roughly similar to this radar.
In theory, this means that the fire-control radar of the Bavar-373 is able to intercept an F-35 from a distance of up to 218 kilometers, given that its radar-evasive coating at this frequency (L-band) is practically negligible and the radar cross-section of the F-35 is approximately 0.5 square meters.
Simulated examples of the F-35's radar cross-section at L-band and VHF frequencies is provided in the images attached to this post.
To convert decibels within the 360-degree diagram (image also attached to the post) to square meters, which is of course the radar cross-section with the radar's horizontal viewing angle, use the following formula: 10 ^ (decibels/10).
