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Season Four Research Files
Episode Sixteen
10:00pm - 11:00pm
The F-117A Nighthawk does not carry radar because radar emissions would give away its location and the presence of a radar antenna would increase the aircraft's radar signature. It instead navigates by GPS and high-accuracy inertial navigation. The aircraft's mission is to penetrate dense threat environments and attack high-value targets with great accuracy. The Nighthawk is only used for nighttime missions, but the US Air Force is evaluating its use on daylight operations and one aircraft has been repainted grey for the tests.
Although the Nighthawk is classified as a fighter (with the "F-" designation), it was designed primarily as a ground attack aircraft. Its nicknames are "Black Widow" and "Wobblin' Gobblin." It carries laser-guided weapons and air-to-surface missiles.
The $45 million aircraft is manned by one pilot alone. As of March 2005, there are 55 Nighthawks in use by the Air Force. One F-117 has been lost in combat to Serbian/Yugoslav forces during the Kosovo War.
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