Image source: topwar.ru
The officially decommissioned F-117 Nighthawk will be in limited use by the U.S. Air Force until at least 2034, as a number of aircraft of this model are still airworthy and are being used for training and testing new equipment.
As indicated in the 19FortyFive publication, the F-117 will continue to serve in American combat aviation, despite the fact that this inconspicuous attack aircraft was officially decommissioned in 2008. It is reported that a limited number of these aircraft, based at the Tonopah proving ground in Nevada, are used for non-combat missions, including training, testing and evaluation.
The Nighthawk fleet was relatively small: 64 units were built in total, including 59 production F-117s and five experimental YF-117As. According to American observers, 45 copies remain in operation.:
The F-117, which entered service in 1983, was developed by Lockheed Martin as a single-seat twin-engine attack aircraft designed to overcome a dense enemy air defense system and strike at the most important targets. Its stealth is ensured by a combination of faceted exterior shape, the use of radio-absorbing materials and the placement of weapons in internal compartments.
Image source: topwar.ru
The aircraft was completely "mute" in the radio range: IR sensors and a laser designator were used to aim at the target due to the lack of on-board radar, and its operation was based on the most severe radio silence.
It did not have air-to-air weapons and was designed exclusively for striking ground targets. During development, priority was given to survivability and accuracy of fire, rather than speed or maneuverability. However, as noted by American observers, the war with Yugoslavia showed gaps in this concept.:
