History:
The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft to fully utilise stealth technology. The unique and strange design minimises both radar and infrared signatures by using a combination of special materials, angles and shielded jet intakes/outlets and provides the single-seated F-117A with exceptional combat capabilities. This twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines and has quadruple redundant fly-by-wire flight controls. The F-117A is an aerodynamically unstable aircraft and requires a computer to enable it to fly. The F-117A is air refuelable and can employ a variety of weapons. It is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems to increase mission effectiveness and reduce pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system. The F-117A can carry a payload of 2.268 kg which is adequate to two 2,000-pound GBU-27 laser-guided bombs, which are stored in an internal bay to avoid radar reflections. Although the F-117A is designated with the F prefix as in fighter, it is really a ground strike aircraft or attack bomber.
The stealth fighter was first shown to public at Nellis in April 1990 and first saw action in December 1989 during Operation Just Cause in Panama.
The stealth fighter attacked the most heavily fortified targets during Desert Storm (January/February 1991), and it was the only coalition jet which was allowed to strike targets inside Baghdad's city limits. Only 36 stealth fighters were deployed in Desert Storm, but they flew more than a third of the bombing runs on the first day of the war. The stealth fighter conducted more than 1,250 sorties during Desert Storm, dropped more than 2,000 tons of bombs, and flew more than 6,900 hours.
In the opening phase of Allied Force (Yugoslavia/Kosovo conflict), NATO air forces conducted more than 400 sorties. One F-117A fighter was lost over Yugoslavia on 27 March 1999. A US search and rescue team picked up the pilot several hours after the F-117A went down outside Belgrade.
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| Function: | Attack bomber |
| Dimensions (wingspan/length/height): | 13.3 m / 20.3 m / 3.8 m |
| Weight: | 13,600 kg empty (23,814 kg max. takeoff weight) |
| Engines: | 2 x General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 with 48,1 kN thrust each |
| Max. speed: | below Mach 1 |
| Range: | 1200 km without air-refueling |
| Ceiling: | classified |
| Armament: | 2 MK84 2000-pound bombs or 2 GBU-10 Paveway II or 2 GBU-12 Paveway II or 2 GBU-27 Paveway III or 2 BLU 109 or 2 WCMD or 2 Mark 61 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co.; USA |
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