F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter in Question Following Alleged Shootdown

The F-117A Nighthawk, the world's most advanced fighter-bomber, has been a star of the Gulf War and a symbol of stealth technology. However, it may have become a casualty of Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia, where it is alleged to have been shot down. The stealth fighter, designed to evade radar detection, has been stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy. However, its unique design, which makes it invisible to radar, also makes it more vulnerable to enemy fire if spotted.

Key Takeaways:

The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first aircraft nearly invisible to radar, but its stealth design makes it more vulnerable to enemy fire if it is spotted.
The fighter is slower than the Air Force's conventional F-15 and F-16 fighters, and its shape makes it harder to fly and less agile than more conventional aircraft.
The F-117A has a 43-foot wingspan and can carry a variety of weapons, including the AGM-86 HARM anti-radiation missile.
The plane's mission often puts it within range of enemy artillery and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.
The stealth fighter is more truly a small ground-attack aircraft than a conventional fighter.
The F-117A was developed in secret by Lockheed Corp. (now Lockheed-Martin) at its "skunk works" in Burbank, California, beginning in 1978.
The aircraft was tested in secret at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, where three mysterious crashes sparked public interest.
The F-117A was revealed to the public in November 1988 and flew its first combat missions in 1989, attacking radars in Panama.

Statistics:

The F-117A has a 43-foot wingspan.
40 stealth pilots took on the most dangerous roles in the air war during the 1991 Gulf War.
The F-117A can carry a variety of weapons, including the AGM-86 HARM anti-radiation missile.
The stealth fighter's mission often puts it within range of enemy artillery and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

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