"DDAY" wrote in
ink.net:

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In article .com, "Jeb
Hoge" wrote:

Ok, so how does ATC handle the damned thing?

Transponders. IIRC, ATC never relies on skin paint. And if they HAD to,
all the pilot has to do is dirty up the jet and voila, radar return.

A couple of years ago a British defense company claimed that they had
tracked an F-22 in flight. An Air Force spokesman replied that when the
F-22s are flying and don't require stealthiness--particularly when
they're flying through civilian airspace--they put something on the
fuselage to create a clear radar signature. I think the implication was
that this was something that they specifically attached for this
purpose. It makes sense.

I might even guess that it is equipped with a small retractable corner
reflector for exactly that purpose.

Dave in San Diego