A “Stealth” Russian Missile?

23/5/2012 Arie Egozi - israeldefense.com

Russia announced that it has successfully launched a new ballistic missile with stealth capabilities

Does the ballistic missile that Russia launched actually possess "stealth" capabilities, as Moscow is claiming?

The long-range ballistic missile was successfully launched from the Plesetsk space base. Russia announced the success of the launch and added that the missile can evade detection by NATO’s radar systems. This statement is generating considerable doubts among experts, as rendering a ballistic missile invisible to radar systems is an exceedingly complicated matter, even bordering on the impossible.

Experts explain that just as Russia can presently detect the US F-35 stealth aircraft through the use of old low-frequency radars, a ballistic missile can be detected in the same way. There are many measures today that could detect the missile launch, which creates a brown “spot” at the launch site, as well as detect the missile while in flight. The methods are varied, say the experts, and are based on the combination of measures such as radars, an optic tracking layout and a layout that can detect the acoustic signature of the rapidly-flying missile.

However, the experts say Russia may have developed a method to produce missile parts from special substances that are also painted in colors that prevent the reflection of some of the radar radiation directed towards the missile. Another possibility is that the missile is equipped with electronic countermeasure systems that jam the detection systems, and even give them numerous false targets.