muskau wrote:

: It seems alot of importance is put into stealth for aircraft these days,
: just wondering who is working on a countering radar system for it?

To give a direct answer to the question, stealth is always
compromised... Because designers have to find a compromise
between stealth and aerodynamics, engines, armament, cost,
etc. Stealth is not absolute; designers aim for a small
radar cross-section but they can't reduce it to zero.

For the same reason, "everyone" is working on a countering
radar. A better radar will also by definition more effective
against stealth aircraft. The systems that are marketed as
"anti-stealth" radars are bipolar or multipolar radars that
separate the receive from the transmitter; not a bad idea,
because stealth is designed to reflect radiation away from the
transmitter, but not a very effective solution, because
designers aim to reflect radition in only a few narrow
directions. AFAIK none is capable of more than giving
a general indication that a stealth aircraft is in the area.

The debate is now on where the balance should be. The USAF
appear the believe that it should be heavily towards stealth,
and is willing to accept the penalties for that -- internal
weapons carriage, for example. Outside the USA there is less
emphasis on stealth and more on the 'conventional' combat
aircraft characteristics, in part for cost reasons, in part
because operators believe that stealth will be difficult to
retain 'in the field'. Personally I do think that stealth
has become more fashionable than its tactical importance
will justify. Compare it to the importance attached to
Mach 2+ performance in the 1960s.

: And if these newer aircraft with their current 'stealth' ability become
: compromised, I assume importance would go to who sees who first and how good
: long range missile technology has become? If that happens, then which recent
: aircraft has the advantage?

It hardly depends on the individual aircraft, it depends on
the 'information' environment. In that sense air combat has
not changed since 1940, when radar gave the RAF a vital
advantage. The 'stealth' designs may still have an advantage
in the sense that their designers build them to rely less on
their own radars (which would give their position away) and
provide them with the hard- and software to collect data
from other sources. But less stealthy designs will have those
as well.

--
Emmanuel Gustin