Summary and Key Points: Steve Balestrieri, a national security columnist and former U.S. Army Special Forces Warrant Officer, evaluates the enduring legacy and active 2026 role of the F-117 Nighthawk.
-Originally developed by Lockheed Skunk Works, the F-117 pioneered low-observable (LO) technology using faceted panels and radar-absorbent material (RAM).
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.
Pilots from the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard based at Rickenbacker IAP, refuel a pair of F-117 Stealth Fighters from the 49th Fighter Wing based at Holloman AFB in New Mexico. The aircraft is being retired and this was the last refueling operation of The Pilots on this mission were Major Paul Hughes, Captain Danny Slater and the Boom Operator was MSgt Bob Derryberry. The photographs are by SMSgt Kim Frey of the 121st ARW. The aircraft were at Wright Patterson AFB where the F-117 program is managed for an informal retirement ceremony. The F-117 is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor which also uses stealth technologies to avoid detection.
-This report analyzes why the “F” designation was used to recruit elite pilots for a subsonic attack aircraft with a two-bomb capacity.
-Balestrieri concludes that while the fleet was retired in 2008, 45 aircraft remain at the Nevada Test and Training Range to serve as high-value “red air” targets and technology testbeds.
The “F” Designation Myth: Why the F-117 Nighthawk Was Labeled a Fighter Despite Having No Air-to-Air Guns
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.
It entered service in 1983 and was officially retired in 2008, paving the way for modern stealth technology in other aircraft.
However, the US F-117 wasn’t a fighter at all, despite the “F” designation. She wasn’t built for speed but stealth. We’ll look at why the Air Force decided to designate the Nighthawk a “fighter” in detail below.
The F-117’s unique, faceted shape and radar-absorbent materials were crucial for penetrating enemy airspace undetected, rather than achieving high speeds.
While it was not quite a supersonic aircraft, its primary mission was to deliver precision strikes against heavily defended targets, which required stealth capabilities over raw speed.
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 U.S. 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 F-117s at the Tonopah Test Range Airport, which is within the boundaries of the larger Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), adjacent to Nellis Air Force Base.
F-117 Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: US Government.
An F-117 Nighthawk taxies down the runway after landing Jan. 11 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. A squadron of F-117s, together with 300 Airmen, have deployed here in support of a continuing force posture adjustment throughout the Pacific. The aircraft, assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is part of the third squadron of Kunsan AB’s host unit, the 8th Fighter Wing, during the deployment’s duration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Darnell Cannady)
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 true attack/bomber role as a “black project.”
The U.S. Air Force’s Tactical Air Command (TAC) had a fighter-based culture and sought elite fighter pilots to fly a notoriously difficult aircraft.
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.
According to Gen. Robert J. Dixon, who served at Tactical Air Command at the time, the reasoning was simple: The Air Force wanted to court the best and most capable pilots for the new stealth program. They knew a “stealth fighter” would be more enticing to fighter jock pilots than a new “attack” aircraft.
This was done even though the F-117 didn’t carry any air-to-air capability.
F-117. Image Credit: Creative Commons
A back lit front view of a F-117A Stealth Fighter aircraft. From Airman Magazine’s February 1995 issue article “Streamlining Acquisition 101”.
Four F-117 Nighthawks fly in formation during a sortie over the Antelope Valley recently. After 25 years of history, the aircraft is set to retire soon. As the Air Force’s first stealth fighter, the F-117 is capable of performing reconnaissance missions and bombing critical targets, all without the enemy’s knowledge. (Photo by Bobbi Zapka)
F-117. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin.
The Air Force Still Has Use For The Oldest Stealth Aircraft:
The F-117 first saw combat action during Operation Just Cause in 1989. It was retired by the U.S. 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 for all the hoopla generated around the aircraft, it wasn’t heavily armed.
Meet The F-117 Nighthawk:
The F-117A’s story dates back to the 1970s, when the U.S. 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, which was 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.
Very Successful Combat Record:
During the Gulf War, F-117s destroyed more than 1,500 high-value targets in just 43 nights without suffering one loss. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the F-117 accounted for only 2 percent of combat sorties but covered 40 percent of the targets.
An F-117 Nighthawk engages it’s target and drops a GBU-28 guided bomb unit during the ‘live-fire’ weapons testing mission COMBAT HAMMER, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
The Nighthawk was deployed to Panama, the desert during the Gulf War, and in Kosovo during the war against the Serbian military.
Only one F-117 was ever shot down, in Serbia. And in that instance, several factors worked against the Americans. First, the Serbs had broken NATO communications in Italy. So, they knew that the F-117s were flying a mission that day, unsupported, as the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft were grounded due to bad weather.
And in an overconfident move, the Air Force planned to fly the F-117s into Serbia along the same route they had usedseveral times already. And the Serbs got a big break when they scanned for the F-117s a second time; it just so happened to coincide with the pilot opening his bomb bay doors.
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.
The F-117’s design used flat, faceted panels to reflect radar waves away from the source, thereby 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 only built 59 of the F-117s, but they punched above their weight, especially in 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-117s’ Armament Capability Was Surprisingly Small:
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 mainly consisted 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. It is curious that 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 have also been used to obscure its true nature from potential adversaries.
How Fast Was The F-117 Nighthawk?
The Nighthawk was no speed demon; her top speed was O.9 mach or 684 mph. But that wasn’t what the aircraft was designed for. She was designed for, and was a very successful, stealth aircraft that delivered precision bombing.
Designed by the famous Lockheed Skunk Works, the F-117 was designed, built, and operated under the strictest veil of secrecy. So secretive was the aircraft that the Air Force flew combat missions for seven years before it was formally unveiled to the public. Now that is stealth.
Why Are The F-117s Still Flying?
The Nighthawks continue to fly for the Air Force despite being officially retired by the USAF in 2008, and they still provide 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.
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 with 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 had 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 to museum or display use, and six were lost. This leaves 45 aircraft, of which at least five seem to be active.
Eventually, all of the 45 remaining aircraft will be retired. Then they’ll be scrapped or donated to museums. Currently, 10 of the F-117 Nighthawks are slated for museum duty. It is an iconic aircraft, one that set the stage for our stealth aircraft of today…even if it wasn’t a fighter.
About the Author: 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.
