The F-117 Nighthawk is perhaps the most intriguing and unusual plane ever built. Officially retired in 2008 by the US Air Force, the erstwhile “Stealth Fighter” remains a frequent sight in the skies, performing quietly in missions that make it still relevant well beyond the 2030s. Its angular, faceted shape and clandestine history have made it a symbol of cutting-edge innovation, but whether it survives is not simply a matter of nostalgia—it’s a matter of ability and flexibility.
The Nighthawk’s heritage reaches back to the post-Vietnam War years, when the United States searched for methods of outwitting increasingly advanced enemy air defenses. Lockheed’s Skunk Works, in utmost secrecy, built the aircraft using tried-and-true parts—T-38A Talon engines and a fly-by-wire system from the F-16—as a foundation for a new approach to stealth.
Its flat, angular design was designed to scatter radar waves. Combined with special radar-absorbing coatings applied to the plane, its radar cross-section was said to be the size of a marble. It first took to the skies in 1977 and entered service in 1983, though not before the public would catch a glimpse of it five years later.
When it eventually did see action, the F-117 lived up to its legend. In missions that ranged from Panama to the Gulf War, it proved that it could strike heavily defended targets with unparalleled accuracy. During Desert Storm, the planes escorted only a small percentage of all missions but destroyed a large share of primary targets, without losing a single aircraft or even taking combat damage. Nighthawk’s ability to penetrate air defenses and strike specific targets was a milestone in the way wars could be fought: fewer aircraft, greater accuracy, and much less exposure for pilots.
But with the advent of military aviation, the limitations of the F-117 grew more and more impossible to ignore. It was not particularly fast, nimble, or multirole-capable, and newer aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 were both longer-range and more flexible at performing stealth missions. Still, the Air Force found new uses for the Nighthawk. Instead of retiring it completely, the service reoriented it into missions where it could still excel.
Nowadays, the F-117 is mainly used as aggressor planes, simulating against stealthy adversaries to conduct training exercises. It has radar and infrared signatures that are effective in simulating how detection systems and fighter pilots respond to low-observable targets. It’s also an effective test platform for new stealth coatings, avionics, and mission systems, which helps in research for the next generation of aircraft. With relatively quick modifications—termed T-2 changes—the aircraft may be converted to accommodate test missions, offering engineers and tacticians a flexible, cost-effective platform.
Also pragmatically, it’s a good idea to keep the Nighthawks in the air. Using these retired fighters for training protects the Air Force from risking expensive and short-handed F-22s or F-35s in high-stress practice. It also keeps current generations of experience flying and maintaining first-generation stealth technology—experience that still has use as newer designs emerge.
The majority of the remaining F-117s are stationed at the out-of-the-way Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, a location famously linked to secret projects. The Air Force has progressively disassembled the fleet over the years, gifting some of the aircraft to museums and scrapping a few annually. Nevertheless, some remain flight-capable under firm maintenance contracts. Existing plans maintain a component of the fleet operational through at least 2034, with no intention of returning them to combat service.
One of the newer advancements in its longer service life is its compatibility with the KC-46 Pegasus air refueling tanker. This makes it possible for the F-117 to execute longer, more sophisticated missions during training and testing. The KC-46 has itself been receiving upgrades to enhance its vision and refueling capabilities, allowing it to service a variety of aircraft, legacy platforms like the Nighthawk included.
The rationale for keeping the F-117 aloft isn’t merely about keeping history alive—it’s about meeting today’s needs. As nascent programs like Next Generation Air Dominance move forward, the demand for realistic, stealthy targets and trustworthy testbeds has grown. The Nighthawk’s consistent signature and versatility make it a trustworthy resource in sensor verification, tactics enhancement, and testing materials under controlled conditions.
Finally, the F-117’s legacy is guaranteed. It was the first operational stealth fighter in the world, the pioneer that changed the character of war. Now, it lives not as a front-line combat plane, but as a bridge between yesterday’s innovation and tomorrow’s advancements—proof that in flight, yesterday’s game-changer can still influence tomorrow’s victory.