At the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the United States, unusual aircraft were noticed. A pair of decommissioned F-117 stealth aircraft arrived at the base of the 144th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force (Air Force). The planes will take part in the exercises as "aggressor planes", reports The Drive.
Representatives of the 144th Fighter Wing said that the planes arrived to participate in exercises using F-15C/D aircraft. The low-profile F-117 aircraft will simulate targets that are not similar to the common US Air Force aircraft. The choice of the F-117 as an "aggressor" is also due to the spread of stealth technologies on potential enemy aircraft.
The F-117 aircraft were withdrawn from service in 2008, replacing them with F-22 Raptor fighters. Therefore, many pilots did not see this plane in the sky. This allows you to use the F-117 for training pilots to identify inconspicuous and unfamiliar targets.
The Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk made its first flight in 1981. During the nine years of production, 64 units of the F-117 were assembled. The inconspicuous aircraft is designed for covertly overcoming the enemy's air defense system and attacking important ground targets. The aircraft received a characteristic faceted fuselage and a large swept wing. These features contribute to the low visibility of the F-117.
Earlier, military expert Alexey Leonkov called the American F-35 aircraft "real flying coffins". According to him, the American aircraft is inferior to the Russian Su-57, and design flaws can lead to the loss of the F-35 crew.
Daniil Irinin
