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	Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk Precision Attack Bomber

DESCRIPTION: The F-117 was the first attempt to build a production aircraft with a radar signature so small as to make it virtually undetectable. This revolution in stealth technology was due primarily to the development of computer programs able to compute the intensity of radar waves reflected back to their source. This software dictated the Nighthawk's unique shape composed of flat angular panels. Once a shape had been found with a sufficiently small radar cross-section, it was up to aerodynamicists to find a way to make it fly. This feat was accomplished thanks to advances in fly-by-wire computerized control systems that make constant adjustments to the F-117's control surfaces and maintain stability. The stealth characteristics of the F-117 were further increased using various coatings of radar-absorbant materials (RAM) and radar-absorbant screens covering the engine inlets. Edges of doors and access panels such as the landing gear and bomb bays were also serrated to scatter radar waves. The aircraft's infrared signature was also reduced by mixing hot exhaust gases from the turbofan engines with cool air and ducting the mixture through a flat "platypus" exhaust. Though called the "stealth fighter," the F-117 was actually an attack plane carrying precision guided bombs deep within enemy territory. Standard armament consisted of two 2,000 lb (905 kg) laser-guided bombs, but reports suggested Maverick and HARM missiles were also carried regularly. The F-117 was developed in utter secrecy during the late 1970s and early 1980s and was not made public until 1988. Shortly thereafter, the Nighthawk made its combat debut over Panama during the ousting of dictator Manuel Noriega. The F-117 saved its greatest performance for Operation Desert Storm when 42 aircraft flew only 2% of the combat sorties against Iraq yet accounted for 40% of the strategic targets attacked. The only combat loss of a Stealth Fighter occurred early in the Kosovo conlict when poor mission planning allowed a Serbian missile battery to predict when an F-117 would fly through its defense zone. Despite its revolutionary capabilites, the F-117 was always limited to night attack missions and gradually became obsolescent with the development of more capable stealth aircraft. The introduction of the truly multi-mission F-22 and F-35 led the US Air Force to phase out the F-117 by 2008. The surviving attack bombers have been retired to the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada where the Stealth Fighter was originally tested. Here, the planes are to be stored in a mothballed state for the next decade in case they should be needed again. Last modified 17 March 2008
HISTORY:
First Flight	(Have Blue demonstrator) December 1977 (F-117A) 18 June 1981
Service Entry	1983
Retirement	22 April 2008
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	$45 million
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	65.92 ft (20.08 m)
Wingspan	43.25 ft (13.20 m)
Height	12.42 ft (3.78 m)
Wing Area	784 ft² (73.0 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	29,500 lb (13,381 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	52,500 lb (23,814 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans
Thrust	21,600 lb (96.0 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 646 mph (1,040 km/h) at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	unknown
Range	1,140 nm (2,110 km) with max payload
g-Limits	+6
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	two internal weapons bays with one hardpoint each
Air-to-Air Missile	AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM
Bomb	up to two GBU-10/-27 LGB
Other	gun pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Have Blue or XST	Code name for the Experimental Stealth Technology (XST) program led by the USAF and intended to develop the capability to greatly reduce aircraft radar signature; 2 built (both crashed)
F-117A	Production stealth attack bomber; 59 built
F-117B	Proposed improved model with radar, not built
F-117N or A/F-117X	Proposed naval version, not built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Panama - Operation Just Cause (USAF, 1989) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, 1991) Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 578-579, Lockheed F-117. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 246-248, Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk. F-117A: The Black Jet FAS F-117 site Global Security F-117 site Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 159, Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk. Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 79-82, Stealth Fighter (F-117). Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 94-99, Lockheed Martin F-117A Nighthawk. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 142-143, Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk. Spohrer, Jennifer and Frase, Tuesday. Jane's Combat Simulations: ATF Gold Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1997, p. 9.22-9.24. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 136-138, Lockheed Martin (LMSW) F-117 Nighthawk and A/F-117X. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 122, Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk. US Air Force F-117 Fact Sheet Wilson, Jim. Combat: The Great American Warplane. NY: Hearst Books, 2001, p. 72-73, F-117 Nighthawk.