The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter is one of the most sophisticated warplanes ever built. It is almost invisible to radar, and first operated under secrecy in 1991, then was deployed by the USAF openly in the Persian Gulf War.
The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems that are integrated into a state-of-the-art digital avionics system. This system optimizes mission effectiveness and increases pilot efficiency. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system, which specifically takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the F-117A.
The F-117A's weapons systems can hit a target 1 yard square. The radar cross-section of a stealth Nighthawk is the same as that of a seagull: one-hundredth of a square yard.
The F-117A is a single-seat low-observable strike fighter. It is powered by two non-afterburning General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 engines, each capable of delivering 10,800 pounds of thrust. The F-117A's maximum speed is Mach 1. The Nighthawk's combat range is 750 miles unrefueled with a 5,000 pound weapons payload. The stealth fighter can carry up to 5,500 pounds of munitions, including BLU-109 low-level or GBU10/GBU27 medium laser guided bombs. It also has provisions for 2 AIM-9-L air-to-air missiles.
Empty, the F-117A weighs about 3,000 pounds. Fully loaded, it weighs up to 52,500 pounds. It is 65 feet 11 inches long, 12 feet 5 inches high, and has a 43 foot 4 inch wingspan.
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