www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=104
Printable Fact Sheet Mission The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft designed t o exploit low-observable stealth technology. This precision-strike aircr aft penetrates high-threat airspace and uses laser-guided weapons agains t critical targets. Features The unique design of the single-seat F-117A provides exceptional combat c apabilities. About the size of an F-15 Eagle, the twin-engine aircraft i s powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines and has quadrupl e redundant fly-by-wire flight controls. Air refuelable, it supports wor ldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of US military f orces. The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophistic ated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics su ite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Det ailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accompl ished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, t o take advantage of the unique capabilities of the F-117A. Background The F-117A production decision was made in 1978 with a contract awarded t o Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, the "Skunk Works," in Burbank, Calif. The first flight over the Nevada test ranges was on June 18, 198 1, only 31 months after the full-scale development decision. Streamlined management by Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson A ir Force Base, Ohio, combined breakthrough stealth technology with concu rrent 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 Tactic al Group, (now the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, NM), ac hieved 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 w as the only US or coalition aircraft to strike targets in downtown Bag hdad. Since moving to Holloman AFB in 1992, the F-117A and the men and w omen of the 49th Fighter Wing have deployed to Southwest Asia more than once. 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 Fr eedom with a decapitation strike on March 20, 2003. Striking key targets in the toppling of Saddam Husseins 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 wa rfare by incorporating low-observable technology into operational aircra ft. The aircraft receives support through a Lockheed-Martin contract kno wn as Total System Performance Responsibility. General Characteristics Primary Function: Fighter/attack Contractor: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co.
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