Why The US Air Force Keeps Using This Fighter Jet Decades After ‘Retiring’ It
The United States Air Force’s Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was retired in 2008, but should still continue operating until at least 2034. Although it no longer sees combat, the Air Force has found a way to continue to take advantage of this retired fighter jet’s handling, technology and stealth capabilities through training exercises.
The F-117 Nighthawk pioneered covert operations around the world. The letter F in his name, meaning Warrior, was deliberately misleading to hide his true purpose. Air combat was not the F-117’s specialty; instead, these jets were designed to sneak into enemy territory and engage targets on the ground. The sharp-edged design helps it reflect and absorb radar waves, and it can reach speeds of nearly 700 miles per hour. Nighthawk is designed for a single pilot and has a range of more than 1,000 miles without refueling.
The first F-117s became operational in 1983, and although they were retired in 2008, airworthy jets are maintained at Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada. As the U.S. Air Force looks to the future with the challenge of hypersonic jets, the Nighthawk is around to train the next generation of fighter pilots and assist with new Air Force projects.
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What Nighthawk does in retirement
F-117 Nighthawk jet in Air Force hangar – VanderWolf Images/Shutterstock
Although Finland has the world’s most expensive fighter jet, the F-117 Nighthawk continues to prove itself even after its retirement. The Air Force prefers to use retired jets rather than active-duty units for training and testing. That’s because if things go wrong, operating something unreliable in combat situations, like the F-22 that replaced the Nighthawk, poses less of a risk.
The F-117 is currently used for training exercises. To help pilots and other military personnel learn how to use the stealth capabilities of enemy warplanes, especially in stealth training. It also operates as a test bed for the Air Force. New technologies such as radar systems and infrared tracking are being tested to see how well this retired jet performs.
But not all retirement is closed to the public. The Nighthawk is occasionally loaned to museums as part of the U.S. Air Force Heritage Program. As of this writing, an F-117 Nighthawk is on display at the Hill Air and Space Museum in Utah, which has been there since 2020 for the public to learn.
Legacy of the F-117 Nighthawk
F-117 Nighthawk jet with crowds around it – BGStock72/Shutterstock
The F-117 Nighthawk’s legacy brings to mind groundbreaking nuclear-powered aircraft carriers like the USS Nimitz, which is nearing retirement. The stealth capabilities pioneered by Nighthawk now enable it to help future generations in the Air Force. The F-117 made a name for itself during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, and pilots used the call sign Rogue.
When the jet was retired, the Lockheed Martin team that created it signed their names on the bomb bay doors in a ceremony to commemorate the jet’s innovation and lasting impact. Although Nighthawk’s combat days are behind him, he has not been idle for the last 18 years. The F-117 continues to pave the way for the future of the US Air Force through training and testing. With another eight years of planned use, it will be exciting to watch the continued importance of this retired fighter jet.
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