F-117 to be retired by 2008

Goodbye nighthawk. It is still unbealievable that this airframe is 30 years old. Though "obsolete" by F-22 standards, it still has a smaller radar cross section than the Rafale, and the Eurofighter.

I wonder what will replace it? Any guesses? My money is on the JSF?



"The general noted the F-117 and the technology behind it are now a "quarter of a century old." The first plans for the F-117 were drawn up in the 1960s, he noted. The fighter first flew in 1981. Technological advances in the military and changes in the way wars are fought are making the fighter obsolete."

Yes, partly replaced by f22 and partly by f35. Even though it might retire by 2008 i am sure USAF will keep the planes in good shape, able to be reinstated within few months, at least until jsf comes into service in decent numbers. I would think the decision, like any other, is purely financial. They're probably too expensive to maintain and they offer little versatility. Lack of radar is probably also not that attractive.

I still am not so sure that f117 is less stealthy than a f22, but i guess there's no way i'll be proven now. Sigh.

Can anyone confirm or deny the wikipedia entry for f117 which says that another f117 has been hit during the kosovo air war, and that it never flew again after it managed to drag itself back to base?

IDonT said:

Goodbye nighthawk. It is still unbealievable that this airframe is 30 years old. Though "obsolete" by F-22 standards, it still has a smaller radar cross section than the Rafale, and the Eurofighter.

I wonder what will replace it? Any guesses? My money is on the JSF?

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"The general noted the F-117 and the technology behind it are now a "quarter of a century old." The first plans for the F-117 were drawn up in the 1960s, he noted. The fighter first flew in 1981. Technological advances in the military and changes in the way wars are fought are making the fighter obsolete."

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It obsolete? Huh? Since when? any other nations have anythig like it? Close maybe but no cigar.....

What will repalace it....probally more F-22's.....

Who knows what those brass hats are thinking???

bd popeye said:

It obsolete? Huh? Since when? any other nations have anythig like it? Close maybe but no cigar.....

What will repalace it....probally more F-22's.....

Who knows what those brass hats are thinking???

Click to expand...

Maybe an aircraft with aurora abilities is now ready to replace it ?

Maybe an aircraft with aurora abilities is now ready to replace it ?

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Humm..I would not be surprised. Afterall the F-117 was developed in secrecry for many years.

Maybe there are some back door dealings going on so the USAF can purchase as many F-22 as they originally wanted?????

It really is an obscolete design. Other nations may not have anything similar, but these fighters are expensive to maintain and can probably be detectable with some of the latest technology. Besides, the airframe is more than 30 years old and more advanced stealth designs on the way. Though I expect the F-117 to be used in suppourtive roles for years to come.

Here's a blurb on the F-117 loss in Kosovo:

One F-117 has been lost in combat, to Serbian/Yugoslav forces. On March 27, 1999, during the Kosovo War, the 3rd Battalion of the 250th Missile Brigade, equipped with the Isayev S-125 'Neva-M' (NATO designation SA-3 'Goa'), downed F-117A serial number 82-806 with a liquid-fuelled Neva missile. According to Wesley Clark and other NATO generals, Yugoslav air defences tracked F-117s with old Russian radars operating on long wavelengths. This, combined with the loss of stealth when the jets got wet or opened their bomb bays, made them highly visible on radar screens. The pilot survived and was later rescued by NATO forces. Reports indicate Russia is using the wreckage to test new anti-stealth technology.
A second F-117A was also damaged during a raid in the Kosovo War, and although it made it back to its base, it never flew again.

So from the description we can conclude:
1) The Serbs had figured out how to track F-117's
2) They successfully hit 2 F-117's (1 down, 1 damaged)
3) The F-117 wreckage may have been acquired by the Russians

It's true that, under ideal conditions, the F-117 still represents the level of stealth technology that most other countries cannot match. But from USAF point of view, it's no longer an invisible weapon.