ELECTROCHROMATIC PANELS
There are quite a number of new technologies being researched, developed and tested at various leading-edge defense contractor facilities, for example, at Groom Lake/AREA 51's highly compartmentalized, multi-faceted conglomerate complexes.
Besides a new generation of VTOL-based UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - remotely-controlled surveillance platforms, some of which may be disk-shaped), there are ongoing development and testing of electrochromatic panels as part of innovations relevant to "daytime-stealth" capabilities.
The electrochromatic panels are comprised of thousands of tiny sensors that function as video-cameras that take images of background scenaries, transferring them to the other panels on the other side of the aircraft. This gives the illusion that the aircraft is almost transparent. What the ground observer sees is whatever background images behind (or above) the body of the aircraft that are transposed to the "observer's" side of the body of the aircraft.
For example, in a recent artist's rendition of a proposed "Stealth Blimp" (POPULAR SCIENCE - although the "panels" were not specifically mentioned, despite the fact that they would undoubtedly accomplish the effect), one can see the stars from above (and behind) the blimp, giving it an illusion of being transparent, and making detection somewhat difficult under certain conditions.
That an ongoing research, development and testing of such electrochromatic panels at locations such as at Groom Lake/AREA 51 may be taking place was first suggested in an article written by aviation writer, Bill Sweetman (POPULAR SCIENCE - May of 1997).
Coincidentally, after that article (suggesting that Groom Lake/AREA 51 was still abuzz with various projects) appeared on POPULAR SCIENCE of May, 1997, the June, 1997 issue of another magazine, POPULAR MECHANICS, in turn, strangely came out with an article by Jim Wilson suggesting that Groom Lake/AREA 51's operations were transferred to Green River missile launch complex in Utah. This was the beginning of the false rumor that AREA 51 had moved to a new location in Utah.
(The Green River missile launch complex right now still appears to be an old, abandoned site, with nothing visible of any significance).
Moreover, if one were to look at significant programs in Utah, attention should rather be focused on DUGWAY PROVING GROUNDS, where lots of innovative programs are ongoing, for example, the latest research on biological-chemical warfare programs as well as non-lethal weapons systems.
In the meantime Nevada's Groom Lake/AREA 51 conglomerate complex is active as ever with new programs.
It is estimated that as of the summer of 1999, there are still anywhere from 1800 to 2300 defense-contractor employees constantly at work in highly compartmentalized projects.
HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS AND HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGE MAXIMIZATION TECHNOLOGY
Research, development and testing is also taking place in another related aspect of electrochromatic panels, namely, the attachment of holographic projection devices capable of causing image size distortions, such as distorting the "size" of the aircraft "observed" by ground observers. For example, with this technology a black traingular aircraft, for example, could be seen to be three or four times its actual size to the ground observer.
This type of technology is part of the Department of Defense (DOD)'s emphais on Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) or Psychological Warfare.
Recent's years' sightings of huge black triangular aircraft (such as over Phoenix, Arizona in 1997) could possibly be related to testing of such devices to observe the reactions of the observers.