F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter
The F-117 Nighthawk is a stealthy aircraft designed to evade radar detection and deliver GPS-guided bombs to high-value targets.
Development
The development of the F-117 began with a simple diamond shape, dubbed the “hopeless diamond,” which was refined by top engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works to create a masterpiece of stealth technology.
Design Features
- Prioritized stealth over speed, sacrificing supersonic capabilities to avoid detection by radar and infrared guided systems
- Internal weapon bays and laser-guided bombing system with steerable turret and infrared sensors
- General Electric J85 engine chosen for reliability and maintainability
- Radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material on engine air inlet to minimize radar detection
- Inflight anti-icing equipment to prevent ice buildup on the inlet grid
- Specially designed engine outlet to cool and disperse exhaust heat to minimize heat signature
- Unique design features, such as Platypus tail and angled engine nozzles, driven by stealth requirements
Challenges and Limitations
- Instability issues, including differential thrust that could push the plane sideways, particularly during takeoff and landing with sidewind
- Wing design constrained by stealth requirements, resulting in an extreme sweep angle and suboptimal airfoil shape
- Reduced lift and pitch instability issues, requiring extensions to increase wing area and specialized control surfaces
Refinements and Improvements
- Wing sweep reduced from 72.5 to 67.5 degrees, increasing lift and reducing pitch instabilities
- Vertical tail dedicated to yaw control only, improving design and reducing redundancy
Operational Success and Legacy
The F-117 proved highly effective in Operation Desert Storm, striking 26 high-value targets on its first night with impunity.
Its success demonstrated the value of stealth technology, with the Air Force estimating a 20-year cost savings of $5 billion compared to traditional bombing packages.
The F-117’s mission planning was complex and relied on knowing enemy radar positions, but its limitations led to the development of more advanced stealth technology, including the F-22 and F-35.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth Technology | A design approach that minimizes the detection of an aircraft by radar and other sensors, achieved through the use of radar-absorbing materials, shapes, and angles. | The F-117 Nighthawk is a masterpiece of stealth technology, designed to evade radar detection and deliver GPS-guided bombs to high-value targets. |
| Hopeless Diamond | A diamond-shaped design concept used as the starting point for the development of the F-117, characterized by its simplicity and effectiveness in reducing radar cross-section. | The development of the F-117 began with a simple diamond shape, dubbed the “hopeless diamond,” which was refined by top engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works to create a stealthy aircraft. |
| Radar-Absorbing Material (RAM) | A material used to absorb or scatter radar waves, reducing the radar cross-section of an aircraft and making it less detectable. | The F-117’s design features radar-absorbing material on engine air inlets to minimize radar detection. |
| Platypus Tail | A unique design feature of the F-117, characterized by its flat, wide tail section, which helps to reduce the aircraft’s radar cross-section. | The F-117’s Platypus tail is one of its distinctive design features, driven by stealth requirements. |
| Supersonic | Exceeding the speed of sound (Mach 1), typically above 660 mph (1,068 km/h), which is often associated with high-performance aircraft. | The F-117 was designed to prioritize stealth over speed, sacrificing supersonic capabilities to avoid detection by radar and infrared guided systems. |
| GPS-Guided Bomb | A type of precision-guided munition that uses Global Positioning System (GPS) signals to guide its trajectory and ensure accurate targeting. | The F-117 is capable of delivering GPS-guided bombs to high-value targets, making it a highly effective stealth bomber. |
| Radar-Cross Section (RCS) | A measure of how much an object reflects radar waves, with a lower RCS indicating a reduced likelihood of detection. | The F-117’s design is optimized to minimize its radar cross-section, making it difficult to detect with radar. |
| Anti-Icing Equipment | A system designed to prevent ice buildup on an aircraft’s surfaces, typically used in high-altitude or cold-weather operations. | The F-117 is equipped with inflight anti-icing equipment to prevent ice buildup on its inlet grid. |
| Infrared Sensors | Sensors that detect and track targets using infrared radiation, often used in missile guidance systems. | The F-117’s internal weapon bays are equipped with infrared sensors to guide laser-guided bombs. |
| Stealth Requirements | The design constraints and priorities imposed by the need to minimize radar detection and detection by other sensors, driving the development of stealth technology. | The F-117’s unique design features, such as the Platypus tail and angled engine nozzles, were driven by stealth requirements. |
F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Vocabulary Quiz
Test your understanding of the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter with this 5-question multiple-choice quiz!
1. What does the term “stealthy” mean in the context of the F-117 Nighthawk?
- A) Capable of flying at supersonic speeds
- B) Designed to evade radar detection
- C) Equipped with laser-guided missiles
- D) Having a distinctive diamond shape
2. What was the primary goal of the F-117’s design?
- A) To achieve supersonic speeds
- B) To deliver GPS-guided bombs to high-value targets
- C) To prioritize stealth over speed
- D) To reduce production costs
3. What feature was added to the F-117 to prevent ice buildup on the inlet grid?
- A) Radar-absorbing material
- B) Inflight anti-icing equipment
- C) Steerable turret
- D) Laser-guided bombing system
4. What was a limitation of the F-117’s design?
- A) Its ability to fly at supersonic speeds
- B) Its reduced lift and pitch instability issues
- C) Its reliance on GPS-guided bombs
- D) Its inability to evade infrared guided systems
5. What was the result of the F-117’s success in Operation Desert Storm?
- A) A 20-year cost increase of $5 billion
- B) The development of more advanced non-stealth technology
- C) A 20-year cost savings of $5 billion
- D) The retirement of the F-117 from service
Answer Key
- 1. B) Designed to evade radar detection
- 2. C) To prioritize stealth over speed
- 3. B) Inflight anti-icing equipment
- 4. B) Its reduced lift and pitch instability issues
- 5. C) A 20-year cost savings of $5 billion
The Use of the Passive Voice in Technical Writing
| Explanation |
|---|
| The passive voice is often used in technical writing to focus on the action rather than the doer. It is particularly useful when the doer is not important or is unknown. In the provided text, the passive voice is used to describe the design features and development of the F-117 Nighthawk. For example, “The development of the F-117 began with a simple diamond shape…” and “Radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material on engine air inlet were chosen to minimize radar detection”. This construction emphasizes the action of development and design rather than the people involved. |
Quiz
Choose the correct sentence using the passive voice:
1. The engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works designed the F-117.
a) The F-117 was designed by the engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works.
b) The engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works are designing the F-117.
c) The F-117 has been designed by the engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works.
2. The radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material were used to minimize radar detection.
a) The radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material use to minimize radar detection.
b) The radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material are used to minimize radar detection.
c) To minimize radar detection, the radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material were used.
3. The F-117’s mission planning is complex and relies on knowing enemy radar positions.
a) The mission planning of the F-117 relies on knowing enemy radar positions.
b) Knowing enemy radar positions, the F-117’s mission planning relies on.
c) The F-117’s mission planning is relied on knowing enemy radar positions.
4. The Air Force estimated a 20-year cost savings of $5 billion.
a) A 20-year cost savings of $5 billion was estimated by the Air Force.
b) The Air Force is estimating a 20-year cost savings of $5 billion.
c) A 20-year cost savings of $5 billion has been estimated by the Air Force.
5. The F-117’s limitations led to the development of more advanced stealth technology.
a) More advanced stealth technology was developed due to the F-117’s limitations.
b) The F-117’s limitations develop more advanced stealth technology.
c) Due to the F-117’s limitations, more advanced stealth technology has been developed.
Answer Key
1. a) The F-117 was designed by the engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works.
2. c) To minimize radar detection, the radar-reflecting grid and radar-absorbing material were used.
3. a) The mission planning of the F-117 relies on knowing enemy radar positions.
4. a) A 20-year cost savings of $5 billion was estimated by the Air Force.
5. a) More advanced stealth technology was developed due to the F-117’s limitations.
