F-117 NIGHT HAWK

[Wells]

F-117 NIGHT HAWK, The first real stealth bomber, you guys like? Well talk about it, I got to go, or I would post more.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a stealth ground attack aircraft operated solely by the United States Air Force. The F-117's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved Initial Operational Capability status in October 1983.[1] The F-117A came out of secrecy and was revealed to the world in November 1988.

As a product of the Skunk Works and a development of the Have Blue prototype, it became the first operational aircraft initially designed around stealth technology. The F-117A was widely publicized during the Gulf War.

The Air Force is on-track to retire the F-117 in April 2008,[3] due mainly to the deployment of the more effective F-22 Raptor.[4][5]

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

So, wait, the F-22 is a better stealth bomber than this thing? Nice.

[Spaz]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]dunehunter

So, wait, the F-22 is a better stealth bomber than this thing? Nice.

And the F-22 can do air to air combat

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

I just kind of wonder as to how effective they are in the wars the US is currently involved in. Sure, they're a nice deterrent to the other major forces, but as an insurgent I would be far more afraid of an A-10 or an Apache than something that flies over miles above you at nearly supersonic speeds, drops a bomb and flies back to base. I mean, these guys don't even have a radar to track it on.

[USMC[KILLER]]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]dunehunter

I just kind of wonder as to how effective they are in the wars the US is currently involved in. Sure, they're a nice deterrent to the other major forces, but as an insurgent I would be far more afraid of an A-10 or an Apache than something that flies over miles above you at nearly supersonic speeds, drops a bomb and flies back to base. I mean, these guys don't even have a radar to track it on.

true.

[mammikoura]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]dunehunter

I just kind of wonder as to how effective they are in the wars the US is currently involved in.

pretty much as effective as any other aircraft with air to ground weapons.

As for my general opinion about the f-117A, I don't really like it that much. An air to ground stealth aircraft that has been shot down by a pretty old anti-air system doesn't seem like it's that good at it's job. And it has already been taken out of service since new aircraft with better specs are already out there.

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

Well, it's been active for 2.5 decade, that's a pretty decent time in my book.

[BetterDeadThanRed]

YF-23 was even stealthier than the F-22, so here's to hoping it takes the commission for the F-15E replacement.

[dislexiclawyer]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]dunehunter

I just kind of wonder as to how effective they are in the wars the US is currently involved in. Sure, they're a nice deterrent to the other major forces, but as an insurgent I would be far more afraid of an A-10 or an Apache than something that flies over miles above you at nearly supersonic speeds, drops a bomb and flies back to base. I mean, these guys don't even have a radar to track it on.

Well I think the main purpose of our stealth aircraft is to fly in preparation of our conventional aircraft. They can fly behind enemy lines and bomb strategic locations such as AA emplacements, radar sites communication facilities, the enemy's grounded aircraft. Then when our conventional aircraft move in they are uncontested in the sky, and we have air superiority.

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

Hm, true, you do have a point. They might not be that useful fighting the insurgents now (though I'm pretty sure they have a faster response time), but those A-10s would probably have had severe trouble with the AA (as that one that made it back to base despite being nearly shot to bits illustrates)