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F-117A Nighthawk |
An F-117 flies over the Nevada desert. |
Mission
The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft
designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. This
precision-strike aircraft penetrates high-threat airspace and
uses laser-guided weapons against critical targets.
Features
The unique design of the single-seat F-117A provides
exceptional combat capabilities. About the size of an F-15
Eagle, the twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General
Electric F404 turbofan engines and has quadruple redundant
fly-by-wire flight controls. Air refuelable, it supports
worldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of
U.S. military forces.
The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped
with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated
into a digital avionics suite that increases mission
effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning
for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished
by an automated mission planning system developed,
specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of
the F-117A.
Background
The F-117A production decision was made in 1978 with a
contract awarded to Lockheed Advanced Development Projects,
the "Skunk Works," in Burbank, Calif. The first flight over
the Nevada test ranges was on June 18, 1981, only 31 months
after the full-scale development decision.
Streamlined management by Aeronautical Systems Center,
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, combined breakthrough
stealth technology with concurrent development and production
to rapidly field the aircraft.
The first F-117A was delivered in 1982, and the last delivery
was in the summer of 1990. Air Combat Command's only F-117A
unit, the 4450th Tactical Group, (now the 49th Fighter Wing,
Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.), achieved operational
capability in October 1983.
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, F-117A's flew
approximately 1,300 sorties and scored direct hits on 1,600
high-value targets in Iraq. It was the only U.S. or coalition
aircraft to strike targets in downtown Baghdad. Since moving
to Holloman AFB in 1992, the F-117A and the men and women of
the 49th Fighter Wing have deployed to Southwest Asia more
than once. On their first trip, the F-117s flew non-stop from
Holloman to Kuwait, a flight of approximately 18.5 hours -- a
record for single-seat fighters that stands today.
In 1999, 24 F-117A's deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, and
Spangdahlem AB, Germany, to support NATO's Operation Allied
Force. The aircraft led the first Allied air strike against
Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999.
Returning to the skies over Baghdad, F-117A's launched
Operation Iraqi Freedom with a decapitation strike on March
20, 2003. Striking key targets in the toppling of Saddam
Hussein's regime, 12 deployed F-117s flew more than 100 combat
sorties in support of the global war on terrorism.
The F-117A program demonstrates that stealth aircraft can be
designed for reliability and maintainability. It created a
revolution in military warfare by incorporating low-observable
technology into operational aircraft. The aircraft receives
support through a Lockheed-Martin contract known as Total
System Performance Responsibility.
The F-117 is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor. The first 10
were retired in December 2006.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Fighter/attack
Contractor: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co.
Power Plant: Two General Electric F404
non-afterburning engines
Thrust: 18,080 pounds at sea level
Wingspan: 43 feet, 4 inches (13.2 meters)
Length: 63 feet, 9 inches (19.4 meters)
Height: 12 feet, 9.5 inches (3.9 meters)
Weight: 52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms)
Maximum takeoff weight: 47,900 pounds (21,727
kilograms)
Fuel capacity: 19,000 pounds (8618 kilograms)
Payload: 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms)
Speed: High subsonic
Range: Unlimited with air refueling
Ceiling: 45,000 feet (13,716 meters)
Armament: Internal weapons carriage
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $45 million
Initial operating capability: October 1983
Inventory: Total force, 45
(Source: U.S. Air Force) |
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