Development of the real-world version began in 1978 when the Lockheed Martin "Skunk Works" sought to extend stealth capabilities to submarines, yet it wasn't until 1993 that the low signature warship was made public. The program drew inspiration from the F-117 stealth aircraft. According to Lockheed Martin, "The initial design consisted of a cigar-shaped hull that was shielded
(Photo : United States Air Force/wiki-commons) English: 4450th Tactical Squadron Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk 81-10796
During the Cold war years, the US Air Force planned to use the Stealth F-117 Nighthawk to launch nuclear attacks on the then Soviet Union. It was the first stealth airplane that went into service possessed by the US.
Stealth F-117 Nighthawk: one of a kind
First entering service in the USAF in late 1983, it was the first plane that radar could not easily detect with its unique design. It is designed to penetrate the challenging Russian network of radars, and surface-to-air missiles that would shoot down ordinary planes easily spotted, reported the Fighter Jets World.
F-117 Nighthawk: America s First Stealth Fighter Revolutionized War
The Nighthawk had a very specific mission to fly unseen into the heart of enemy air defenses and take out critical targets.
Here s What You Need to Know: The F-117 offered the United States military a unique ability to slip through enemy air defenses and takeout high value 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.