"This is a strategic weapon that really reshaped how the Air Force looked at strategic warfare."
Lt. Col. Chris Knehans, 7th Fighter Squadron
After years of development, the Lockheed Martin Corporation's first viable stealth fighter aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk, finally came into operation in 1983. The technology it contained made it practically invisible to conventional radar at the time, giving it a major military advantage over conventional aircraft.
The rounded shape of conventional aircraft improves their aerodynamics but also makes them highly visible to enemy, radar. The F-117's designers found that an aircraft of sharp angles and triangles reflected back less radar. The surface of the plane is also coated in paint that absorbs radar signals, making the plane even more invisible. Other adaptations
include an unconventional tailfin and reduced turbulence on the engine outlets. However, the aircraft is inherently unstable and would be impossible to fly without its extensive computer systems.
The U.S. military denied the existence of the stealth aircraft until as late as 1988, when the first grainy photographs appeared. It first saw military action in 1989 and quickly became the weapon of choice for some operations. Its scheduled retirement in 2008 is due to replacement by more advanced aircraft.
