The ‘Retired’ US Air Force F-117 Nighthawk ‘Stealth Fighter’ Will Now Fly Until 2034 Thanks To China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su-57

Summary and Key Points: During Operation Desert Storm, the F-117 Nighthawk flew about 2 percent of the coalition’s combat sorties and hit roughly 40 percent of the targets. It did that, carrying two bombs at a time, subsonic, with no radar of its own and no air-to-air weapons whatsoever, finding its target with infrared sensors and a laser designator. Fifty-nine were built. The Air Force retired the type in 2008 and still has 45 of them parked at Tonopah, and it intends to keep flying them until at least 2034 — twenty-six years after they were supposed to be finished.

The F-117 Nighthawk ‘Stealth Fighter’ Won’t Go Away 

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft. It was developed in response to a need for an aircraft capable of attacking high-value targets without being detected by radar. It utilized a faceted design and radar-absorbent materials to minimize its radar cross-section. 

The F-117 Nighthawk is still flying, even though it was officially retired from combat service in 2008. A portion of the fleet remains airworthy and is used by the US Air Force for testing new technologies and training, including acting as an adversary to simulate enemy stealth aircraft. The Air Force plans to continue these operations through at least 2034.

The Air Force keeps all the F-117s at the Tonopah Test Range Airport, which is located within the boundaries of the larger Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), which lies adjacent to Nellis Air Force Base.

Why Was It Given An “F” Designation, As In Fighter?

The F-117 Nighthawk got its “F” (Fighter) designation primarily for secrecy and bureaucratic reasons, to hide its proper attack/bomber role as a “black project.” 

The US Air Force’s Tactical Air Command (TAC) wanted elite fighter pilots, and the “F” designation was more appealing to them than an “A” (Attack) or “B” (Bomber), and potentially as a cover story for its intended missions against Soviet AWACS, fitting into the USAF’s “Century Series” numbering for tactical jets, despite being a dedicated ground-attack stealth aircraft.  

F-117 Nighthawk at National Museum of Air Force 19FortyFive Photo

F-117A Nighthawk at USAF Museum. Image taken by 19FortyFive Owner, Harry J. Kazianis.

This was done even though the F-117 didn’t carry any air-to-air capability.

Combat for F-117

The F-117 first saw combat action during Operation Just Cause in 1989. It was retired by the US Air Force in 2008, but remains an iconic example of stealth technology and a subject of public fascination.

Its small radar signature, Low Observable (LO) stealth technologies, and advanced targeting system allowed the aircraft to penetrate dense threat environments and deliver precision weapons against heavily defended, high-value targets with pinpoint accuracy. Primary missions included precision attack, air interdiction, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), and special operations.

But despite all the hoopla surrounding the aircraft, it wasn’t heavily armed.

Meet The F-117 Nighthawk

The F-117A’s story dates back to the 1970s, when the US Air Force began to realize that increasingly sophisticated Soviet Air defense systems and radar, particularly surface-to-air missiles, were jeopardizing American air supremacy.

The Defense Research Projects Agency, more commonly known as DARPA, contracted with Lockheed’s fabled Skunk Works division to design and build the Have Blue stealth technology demonstrator, the similar-looking predecessor to the F-117A Nighthawk. 

The turnaround time from contract award to initial operating capability was incredibly short, just seven years, a testament to the talented team at Lockheed’s Skunk Works. The first F-117As became operational in 1983. But the Air Force didn’t acknowledge its existence until 1988.

During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the F-117 accounted for only 2 percent of combat sorties but covered 40 percent of the targets. 

The Nighthawk’s Stealth Technology

The F-117’s unique design incorporates flat, angled panels that scatter and reflect radar waves. Bolstered by an external coating of radar-absorbent materials, which reduces its radar signature, the aircraft was nearly invisible to radar.

F-117 Nighthawk Creative Commons Photo

The F-117’s design utilized flat, faceted panels to deflect radar waves away from the source, minimizing its radar cross-section. The aircraft was coated with RAM, further reducing its radar signature. 

The radio-wave-absorbing materials covering the F-117 weighed almost 1 ton and were held in place with adhesive. The gaps between the sheets are filled with a putty-like material called “butter.”

The F-117 did not utilize radar for targeting; instead, it relied on infrared sensors and a laser designator. The F-117’s internal weapons bays further reduced its radar profile.

The Air Force built only 59 F-117s, but they punched above their weight, especially during Operation Desert Storm.

Technical Specifications

Engines: Two General Electric F404-F1D2 engines, 9,040 lbf  thrust each

Maximum speed: 684 mph (0.84 Mach)

Range: 1,070 miles (unlimited with aerial refueling)

Crew: 1

Length: 65 ft 11 in (20.09 m)

Wingspan: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)

Height: 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)

Wing area: 780 sq ft (72 m2)

Empty weight: 29,500 lb (13,381 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 52,500 lb (23,814 kg)

The F-117’s Armament Capability Wasn’t Big

The F-117 Nighthawk was designed as a stealth attack aircraft, primarily focused on delivering precision-guided munitions. It carried its weapons internally in two bomb bays, and its arsenal consisted mainly of laser-guided bombs (LGBs) and GPS-guided bombs (JDAMs). The GBU-27 Paveway III was a key munition, designed to penetrate hardened targets. 

The F-117’s stealth design required that all weapons be carried internally, limiting its payload capacity to two bombs. 

The F-117 was equipped to deploy laser-guided bombs (LGBs) such as the GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-10, and GBU-27, which were guided by the aircraft’s laser designator. 

Later in its service, the F-117 also used GPS-guided bombs such as the GBU-31 and GBU-38, providing an alternative to laser guidance. 

The F-117 was designed solely for air-to-ground missions and lacked any air-to-air weapons or a gun for engaging enemy aircraft. Curiously, the Air Force used the designator as a fighter (F) instead of an attack aircraft (A) due to a combination of factors, including a desire to attract top pilots and potential security considerations. 

While primarily a stealth attack aircraft, the “F” designation was seen as more appealing to fighter pilots and may also have been used to obscure its true nature from potential adversaries.

Why Are The F-117s Still Flying?

The Nighthawks continue to fly for the Air Force despite being officially retired from the USAF in 2008, and they are still providing the service with several valuable tools. Why is the USAF still flying them?

The aircraft is used as a testbed for new technologies, such as radar systems, infrared tracking, and stealth-enhancing materials. 

The Nighthawk serves as a valuable “red air” asset for training pilots to counter and defeat modern stealth aircraft from other nations. Yes, that means likely pretending to be China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighters in training runs, at least to some extent. 

Russia’s Su-57 Felon Fighter

Using the F-117 for these purposes is less risky and expensive than testing these systems on more modern, active-duty aircraft like the F-22 Raptor or F-35. 

The F-117 can be used to simulate stealthy cruise missiles during large-scale exercises.

The F-117 Paved The Way For The Stealth Aircraft Of Today

The F-117’s development and operational use paved the way for other stealth aircraft, such as the B-2, F-22, and F-35. The Air Force still uses the F-117, and an official said, “On occasion, we fly certain [F-117A] aircraft to support limited research and training activities.”

F-117s have recently been involved in and supported several exercises in 2020, operating more frequently and openly alongside Aggressor aircraft at Nellis and MCAS Miramar.

In 2023, a USAF spokesperson said, “We have approximately 45 F-117s currently. As we demilitarize the aircraft, they will be made available to museums, if requested, or be disposed of.” 

The number has been reduced by six compared to the total given in 2019. Lockheed originally built five YF-117As and 59 production aircraft. Thirteen of these have been retired for museum or display use, and six have been lost. This leaves 45 aircraft, of which at least five are active.

Eventually, all of the 45 remaining aircraft will be retired. Then they’ll be scrapped or donated to museums. Currently, 10 are slated for museum duty.

About the Author: U.S. Military Expert Steve Balestrieri 

Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.