Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

The Lockheed F‑117 Nighthawk, developed by the secretive Skunk Works division of Lockheed, entered the world as the first operational stealth fighter. Conceived in the late 1970s to meet a United States Air Force requirement for a low‑observable attack aircraft, the program—codenamed “Senior Trend”—was hidden from public view until its inaugural flight in 1981. The Nighthawk’s distinctive faceted fuselage and wings arose from early computer‑generated radar‑cross‑section (RCS) studies, allowing it to scatter incoming radar waves and reduce detection by up to 99 percent. Powered by twin General Electric F404 turbofans, the aircraft could deliver up to 18,650 pounds of ordinance, including laser‑guided bombs, while maintaining a maximum speed of Mach 0.92. First deployed in the 1991 Gulf War, the F‑117 proved the combat value of stealth, striking high‑value targets with minimal collateral loss. After more than two decades of service, it was retired in 2008, leaving a legacy that reshaped aircraft design, sensor integration, and survivability concepts. Its influence persists in modern platforms such as the F‑22, F‑35, and a variety of unmanned systems, cementing the F‑117’s status as a pivotal milestone in aviation history.

Skunk Works

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

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