Military aircraft demonstrated their dominance over the battlefield field in World War-II for the first time, and it was evident then that wars of the future were going to be fought and won in the skies. The role of combat aircraft during key strategic battles and eventually the whole war was crucial towards the victory of allied forces. Not-so-long after the end of World War-II, we saw rapid technological advancement in aviation and therefore the next generation of military aircraft were put in service by air-forces around the globe.
Since World War-II, combat military aircraft have come a long way and we are now witnessing the fifth generation of these lethal combat machines being operated by several countries. However, when we analyze these aircraft visually, their grey paint schemes have stayed consistent for decades. This may lead us to the inevitable question, why are military aircraft grey?
Most military aircraft around the world are painted in different shades of grey which acts as a camouflage that helps them blend into the hazy greyish atmosphere. However, this cannot be taken as a rule because some countries utilize different paint schemes for their military aircraft depending upon their combat roles, geographical placement and strategic philosophies.
It is often thought that during combat, against the clear blue sky or green terrain, these grey military aircraft will be visually distinguishable for enemies; so why are these jets not painted blue?
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Why Are Military Aircraft Not Painted Blue?
Imagine the military aircraft of the World War-II with their varying color schemes and big circles of air force insignia covering their wings, fuselage, and tail. These combat aircraft were easily spotted from the boats and ground alike.
Military forces around the world experimented during the war and realized that the atmosphere really does not have a color. As such, it is easier for a grey aircraft to blend in with the hazy background. The grey camouflage was the least distinguishable against the terrain, the hazy sky, or the blue waters of the ocean.
Additionally, with the advent of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, the big round insignias, which were used for identification, became redundant. Nowadays, we only see much smaller air force insignias placed near the cockpit and on the rudder of fighter jets.
Aviation researchers, through trial and error, realized that grey color provided better ‘countershading’ for a military aircraft instead of blue or green camouflage. This countershading technique helps a military aircraft to stay visually indistinguishable from the environment, whereas if an aircraft were painted blue, it would be identifiable from afar on the ground and even in the sky.
To have a clear idea, imagine you are looking at a bright blue fighter jet from above, against the terrain. It will be identified in a moment. Therefore, in comparison, the grey paint is always harder to identify against the haziness of the atmosphere and provide good camouflage for military aircraft in most situations.
However, as we noted earlier, not all military aircraft in the world are painted in grey camouflage. Let us see what camouflage schemes other than grey that are utilized, and look at the reasons why some decide to go with other colors than grey!
What Are the Different Paint schemes Used Commonly By Fighter Jets?
Based on the geographical regions a military aircraft is intended to operate in, some military forces around the world tend to utilize different paint schemes for a segment of their fleet.
Another crucial factor in this decision is the combat operational requirements of these military forces. Let us take an example of a fighter jet that is intended for low flying in a Close Air Support role or to avoid radar detection. An aircraft with this role may be painted to camouflage it with the terrain, since it often flies close to the ground.
Let us the most commonly utilized camouflages of military aircraft other than grey!
Dark and Light Blue Camouflage of Russian Air Force
Russian Air Force maintains a fleet of Sukhoi SU-34 and MIG-29 which are covered in Dark and Light Blue camouflage.
The Russian Air Force has significant operational presence in the Baltic and other similar snow-covered regions to its east. The dark and light blue camouflage may therefore be justified as they are flying on a terrain that has either glaciers or frozen white lakes.
The Swedish Air Force also maintains a strong presence in the Baltic region but unlike the Russian Air Force, it utilizes the common grey camouflage on its military aircraft.
Dark and Light Brown Camouflage used by Gulf Military Forces
Several militaries in the Gulf area, including Israeli and Jordanian Air Forces, maintain a fleet of Light and Dark brown camouflaged aircraft.
Considering the terrain they operate on, which is mostly brown desert dunes or mounds, the dark and light brown camouflage enables them to dive down once detected by enemy aircraft and effectively merge with the terrain.
Black Camouflage on US Reconnaissance Jets Black F-117 SR71
It has been widely reported that during the development of F-117 ‘Nighthawk’, it was designed with grey camouflage. However, the US Air Force specifically requested Lockheed to have it painted black because they intended to field these aircraft only in night operations. Similarly, the SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ as its name suggests, was painted black partially because the stealth paint available during the era of its development was black.
As we have seen, the paint color or camouflage of military aircraft is decided based on the operational requirements and the geographical constraints of different military forces. But the paint of a fighter jet, unlike that of other military equipment, is more than just paint.
Why, you may ask?
The Importance of Paint on Military Aircraft
Most modern military aircraft fly above or near Mach-2, which is twice the speed of sound.
At these supersonic speeds, the interaction of aircraft paint with the air flow outside becomes crucial. The friction due to airflow generates an immense amount of heat, raising the aircraft surface temperatures to around 180̊ Celsius (356°F). At this temperature, normal paints would just melt away from the surface.
Additionally, if the paint finish on an aircraft is not smooth enough, additional heat would be generated due to increased resistance inevitably testing the structural integrity of the material underneath.
The Role of Aircraft Paint in Stealth Technology
Being visually indistinguishable is important for military aircraft but it is still not as crucial as being invisible to their primary enemy, the Radars.
Aircraft paint has a key role to play in Stealth of a fighter jet. Aircraft having stealth technology have a special coating of stealth paint that absorbs the radiation coming from Radars making them impossible or hard to detect.
Protection of Aircraft Surface from Damage
If you have seen images of fighter jets being assembled in a factory, you may have noted that it is painted in a greenish color. This greenish layer of paint is called “primer” and it acts as a barrier over the aircraft skin to protect it from all sorts of environmental factors. The actual paint of the aircraft which is visible to us is applied over the primer.
With the advancements in military aviation, modern military aircraft now have surfaces made from composite materials for weight reduction purposes. The composite materials, however, suffer more from environmental factors than metals or alloys. This is where aircraft paint becomes significant as it keeps these composite surfaces protected and structurally intact.
Now, we have seen that paint of a military aircraft is much more than just camouflage.
But ff the paint of a military aircraft is crucial, then what about the commercial airliners?
The Difference Between Military And Commercial Aircraft Paint
In commercial airliners, we often see bright and colorful paint schemes, as these airliners are made to stand out and serve as an advertisement for the airline itself. On the other hand, a military aircraft is designed and painted to be invisible visually and from the radars as well.
The significance of aircraft paint, however, remains the same in commercial aircraft due to the increase in usage of composites in modern airliners. Boeing B787, for example, has its fuselage and control surfaces (Ailerons, Rudder, Elevators, etcetera) made from composite structure. Therefore, it needs a strong paint coating to protect the composite material from environmental damages.
Also, have you ever noted that commercial airliners are mostly painted white? Well, the white color absorbs the least amount of heat from the sun, and considering the large cabin of commercial airplanes, it helps in reducing the effort required from the air-conditioning system.
Conclusion and Summary
Military aircraft are normally painted in a grey camouflage that provides the necessary ‘countershading’ and makes it indistinguishable in most combat situations against the sky or the terrain. Although some military forces utilize other camouflage schemes depending upon their geographical requirements, grey camouflage remains the most utilized.
Additionally, aircraft paint is developed to withstand extreme temperatures and friction for protection of the structural integrity of these fighting machines.
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