The F-117 was designed before there were advanced computers with the calculating power to produce curved surfaces.
Here's What You Need to Know: The Nighthawk had a very specific mission when it was first designed—to fly unseen into the heart of enemy air defenses and take out critical targets.
The F-117 Nighthawk, America’s original stealth plane with a deeply sinister appearance, is an example of a weapon system designed around the limitations imposed by a promising new technology. The Nighthawk was revolutionary when it entered service in 1983—not that many could appreciate that, as the plane was kept secret from the public for five years.