Why was the F-117 retired so quickly? (Top facts)

Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk was retired in 2008. Why was it discontinued, despite its numerous technological advantages?

What is Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk?

The F-117 was developed in the 1970s and entered service in 1983. Its diamond shape was incredibly effective at reducing this aircraft’s radar cross-section. This airplane was a secret project of the U.S. Army, and therefore it was revealed to the public only in 1988, five years after entering active service.

The aircraft was built quickly as existing components already in use on other planes were used. Also, the plane was constructed more easily as conventional aerospace aluminum was used.

Its first use was over Panama in 1989. Later, it spectacularly performed over Iraq during the first Gulf War in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Why the United States needed the F-117?

The United States developed the F-117 Nighthawk as a response to the growing threat posed by advanced air defense systems during the Cold War.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the former Soviet Union developed a sophisticated network of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and radar systems that posed a major challenge to traditional military aircraft. The U.S. military needed a new type of aircraft to be able to face this threat, that could operate successfully even in heavily-defended airspace.

That is why Nighthawk incorporated the most recent technologies of the time: stealth materials and construction and precision strike capabilities. It could remain undetected by radars that existed back then.

What were the main advantages of the F-117?

What were the main differences and technological novelties of the F-117? Here are its Top-4 features:

1. Stealth technology and low observability: The plane was undetectable by the enemy radar systems. This is why it could reach the zone of military operations undetected, and remain largely invisible to the adversary’s electronic systems during the entire course of its mission.
2. Precision strike capability: The stealth vehicle was equipped with GPS-aided navigation and a laser-guided bomb system. This is why it could deliver precision-guided munitions with high accuracy. In practice, it was accurate only in 41-60% of performed strikes, but it was still a very good result compared to older planes.
3. Night operations: The aircraft was specifically designed for night operations. For this purpose, it incorporated the latest imaging technologies to observe its airspace and ground objects.
4. Modern avionics: The aircraft used quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire controls, which meant that all conventional manual flight controls were replaced with electronic interfaces. It also had sophisticated navigation, and automated mission planning systems. Its avionics could detect targets, designate them for laser-guided bombs, and automate the release of weapons.

All these advanced features meant that the F-117 was a unique and highly effective aircraft until the end of its service.

When was the F-117 Nighthawk retired?

The F-117 was retired in 2008. The official statement by the Air Force explained that it was no longer needed with the advent of newer and more powerful aircraft such as the Raptor and the F-35.

During the entire lifetime of the F-117 fleet, only one unit was lost. It happened over Yugoslavia in March 1999 during Operation Allied Force. Of course, the F-117 is not invisible or invincible. Even in most successful operations, like those during Operation Desert Storm, attack helicopters were used to eliminate low-frequency early warning radars before stealth fighters could proceed to their targets undetected.

Why was the F-117 retired so quickly?

For a modern stealthy aircraft such as F-117, being in service for 25 years was a short lifetime. What was the main reason for its discontinuation?

Some contemporary stealthy strategic bombers like the famous B-2 are able to remain unnoticed even in the presence of low-frequency radars. But new radar technologies threaten even these powerful stealth bombers. Therefore, the F-117, optimized to defeat high-frequency radars, is no longer relevant in current fights.

Moreover, it cannot map out threat emitters in real time like its successors F-22 and F-35. It is also not able to survive when it is detected and confronted. Therefore, new technologies are being developed so that Air Force stays ahead.

If you enjoyed this article then you might be interested in reading other ‘How and Why’ articles as we look to tackle and dissect various probing questions.

Written by Giedrius Pakalka and Alius Noreika