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Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

1982 ALLIED FORCE COLD WAR GULF WAR

History of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

The F-117 Nighthawk gained worldwide fame in the 1991 air battle against Iraq. The aircraft was the world's first operational stealth platform and has maintained an excellent service record throughout its tenure. Due to its advanced nature, the plane was kept secret for nearly a decade before U.S. authorities officially confirmed its existence. Since then, the aircraft has served in several major global wars and has undoubtedly maintained an excellent service record with its unique qualities and professional pilot training.

Despite its usual "stealth fighter" moniker, the F-117 is actually an attack-oriented aircraft with characteristics more like a bomber than a true fighter - it has no onboard artillery and is usually equipped with air-to-surface ammunition.

From the outset, the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was designed to be a fully functional "stealth" ground attack platform capable of traversing enemy airspace undetected and targeting intended targets Fires powerful laser-guided munitions. Although the F-117 looked very futuristic at the time, it was actually a late 1970s design under the project name XST (eXperimental Stealth Technology) "Have Blue". Lockheed's Skunk Works was funded by the U.S.

Air Force and delivered two prototypes. The U.S. Air Force's request was for a new fighter jet that could traverse enemy air defenses undetected and deliver precision weapons.

Lockheed engineers chose a very striking floor plan, using sharp angles wherever possible - even with the tail surface swept in. Two GE CJ610 afterburner turbofan engines are buried deep in the fuselage to reduce the aircraft's heat signature. The aircraft is operated by a pilot, assisted by computerized facilities as necessary. Because of the unconventional overall shape of these prototypes, technology has played a growing role in helping the airframe stay airborne without encountering serious stability issues. The first flight of the Have Blue prototype took place in December 1977 at the Lockheed facility in Groom Lake, Nevada.

Although the original Have Blue prototypes required a lot of engineering and technology, physics proved they had the final say, and both ended up being killed in an accident in 1980.

Official design and development of the prototype-based production form began in November 1978 under the label "Premium Trend". Five full-scale development (FSD) test aircraft followed, with the first flying in January 1981. These versions differ from the Have Blue prototypes in that they have a larger overall shape and the rear wing now slopes outward from the centerline. As the program reached required milestones, the first production-grade aircraftnow designated by the USAF as the F-117A Nighthawkwas delivered to inventory in August 1982.

The Nighthawk became the first fully functional "stealth" aircraft. Airplanes around the world in October 1983.

The most pronounced radar deflection/absorption characteristic of the F-117 is its unique lift fuselage shape, which uses a multi-faceted angular approach to distort or reflect incoming radar emissions. Even the canopy has a spire and tiny windows. The spine of the fuselage extends down from the cockpit, forming the base of the aircraft at the very end of the design. The air intakes are covered with special heated "screens", and the engine exhausts aft are barely noticeable horizontally slotted vents that quickly dissipate heated air to avoid noticeable plumes.

Additionally, the F-117 is coated with a radar absorbing coating (RAM = Radar Absorbing Material), which gives the aircraft its distinctive matte black appearance. Since GE's F404-series turbofans don't use afterburner to increase speed, the Nighthawk was able to further reduce its thermal signature for snooping. Ammunition carrying options are inherently limited as all ammunition is housed in a rectangular interior bomb bay. This typically results in the aircraft deploying two 2,000-pound laser-guided bombs. Only when the bomb bay door is opened can the F-117 pilot communicate his location to enemy radars.

Viewed from the bottom, the F-117 maintains a true delta plan shape that is easily recognizable to even the most casual observer. The landing gear is very traditional, consisting of two single wheel legs and a single wheel nose landing gear leg.

The F-117 pilot doesn't get a traditional radar system in his Nighthawk cockpit, but he does have access to advanced navigation and attack systems for precise use of the weapon. A forward/downward infrared device is also installed. In fact, the F-117A's dashboard is more reminiscent of a 1970s fighter jet than any high-tech platform, complete with circular dials, pointer gauges and lights.

Throttle controls were moved to the left dash, and flight and weapons delivery controls were located on traditional flight sticks (HOTAS = Hands On Throttle and Stick) between the pilot's knees.

The F-117 was originally assigned to the USAF 4450th Tactical Group at Tonopah Proving Ground. The deliveries take place under the strictest secrecy, and the training takes place only in the dark, so as not to arouse suspicion among the locals.

In late 1988, the Air Force could no longer completely keep the planes secret, officially acknowledging the existence of its stealth fighter jets. Since then, aircraft have been allowed to operate during the day. The F-117 eventually went to the 37th Fighter Wing, which absorbed the 4450th Fighter Wing. Holloman's 49th Fighter Wing also flew the mount from 1991 to 2008.

The Nighthawk pilots were called "bandits," and by the end of the plane's tenure, there were only a select 558.

During the December 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, the F-117A was used to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega, dropping two bombs at Rio Hato Airport. But it was efforts to repel Iraqi ground forces in U.S. ally Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War that brought the F-117As into focusdespite making up just 2.5 percent of coalition air power, they destroyed 40 percent of enemy airpower. square ground target. area. The Nighthawks were particularly active on the first day of the attack, and by the end of the conflict, 42 F-117As had flown more than 1,200 times. In 1999, the F-117A was used by Allied forces in Bosnia-Kosovo, the only time the Yugoslav army has shot down an aircraft of its type. The Nighthawk returned to service after 9/11 during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 - the latter marking its last combat operation before service from the U.S.

Air Force.

The F-117 has undergone a minor upgrade program to improve its navigation system, with the aim of keeping the series in the air until 2015. However, maintenance costs, time and ever-improving technology eventually passed her, and she officially retired on April 22, 2008. Lockheed's flagship F-22 Raptor has taken her place and will soon be replaced by the multi-role F-35 Lightning II, also from Lockheed. In the end, only 59 of the extraordinary revolutionary Nighthawks were delivered to the USAF for $42. 6 million per unit.

All told, Lockheed's stealth plan netted U.S. taxpayers about $111. 2 million. The last F-117A was decommissioned on August 1, 2008.

No other F-117 variant is known as the original A-type, nor offered for export procurement, suggesting that the stealth technology used in the F-117 is really important.