F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Jet

Full Specifications

F-117 Nighthawk: America’s Pioneering Stealth Attack Jet

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stands as one of the most revolutionary aircraft in aviation history. Developed under extreme secrecy by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, it became the world’s first operational stealth attack aircraft, designed to evade radar detection and penetrate dense enemy air defenses. The F-117 was officially introduced into U.S. Air Force service in 1983 and remained operational until 2008, marking a new era in low-observable warfare technology.

Built primarily for nighttime precision strike missions, the F-117’s faceted, diamond-like design minimized radar reflections, earning it the nickname “Wobblin’ Goblin.” It was equipped with advanced radar-absorbent materials (RAM) and flew primarily under cover of darkness to exploit its stealth advantages. Powered by two General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 turbofan engines, the aircraft could reach speeds of around Mach 0.92 with a combat radius of 540 miles.

Armament capabilities included two internal bays capable of carrying 2,000-pound laser-guided bombs such as the GBU-27 Paveway III or GBU-10. Despite lacking an onboard radar, the F-117 relied on sophisticated inertial navigation and infrared targeting systems, giving it unmatched accuracy in its era.

Operationally, the F-117 saw combat in Operation Just Cause (Panama) and Operation Desert Storm (1991), where it struck heavily defended targets in Baghdad with near-perfect success rates. It later participated in Kosovo (1999) before retirement, succeeded by the F-22 Raptor.

F-117 Nighthawk Price in United States

Although officially retired, the F-117 Nighthawk’s original unit cost was approximately $42.6 million (1980s dollars) — roughly equivalent to over $110 million today when adjusted for inflation