Is the US Air Force still using the F-117 Nighthawk bomber in secret for stealth pilot training?
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According to the National Security Journal on August 20, 2025, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber, officially retired in 2008, continues to fly in the skies above Nevada. Although its combat days ended nearly two decades ago, the US Air Force had to acknowledge that several aircraft remain in use for specialized training and testing missions.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Air National Guard disclosed in 2021 that F-117s had been used as surrogate cruise missile targets during integrated air and missile defense exercises, allowing units to hone detection and intercept tactics against stealth-like profiles. (Picture source: US DoD)
Civilian sightings over the years had already revealed regular activity, forcing the service to confirm that the aircraft were operating from locations such as the Tonopah Test Range and Groom Lake. The aircraft now serve multiple roles, including training new pilots in stealth flight techniques, acting as adversary surrogates during exercises, and supporting the development of radar, infrared, and sensor technologies. They also appear in exercises as cruise missile surrogates and help refine tactics against potential stealth threats from other nations.
The Tonopah Test Range, situated about 27 nautical miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada, and 140 miles northwest of Las Vegas, has been central to this continued activity. Established in 1957 to support nuclear weapons testing by the Atomic Energy Commission, later the Department of Energy, it eventually grew into a multi-role site managed by the US Air Force. The airfield features a 12,000 by 150 foot runway, more than fifty hangars, extensive taxiways, instrument approaches, lighting for nighttime operations, and support facilities including maintenance hangars, storage tanks, and personnel housing. Its remoteness and controlled access made it ideal for classified projects. In addition to supporting the Department of Energy, Tonopah has hosted evaluations of foreign aircraft, electronic warfare testing, and advanced stealth programs. Today, it continues to serve as a secure location for both Air Force and DOE operations.
The F-117 program became closely tied to Tonopah in the early 1980s. After initial test flights of the YF-117A began at Groom Lake in 1981, the Tactical Air Command’s 4450th Tactical Group shifted to Tonopah to bring the aircraft to operational readiness. Beginning in 1979, Tonopah was reconstructed with expanded runways, security fencing, lighting, new hangars, and housing facilities for personnel. By 1983, the F-117 had achieved initial operating capability. The program remained classified, with flights restricted to night hours and aircraft hidden in hangars by day. To mask the program’s existence and train pilots while only a few F-117s were available, the unit used A-7D Corsair IIs and later T-38 Talons. Personnel commuted weekly between Las Vegas and Tonopah, living at a secure complex known as Mancamp. Security extended to access points, manuals locked in vaults, and continuous surveillance of the surrounding terrain. The secrecy continued until 1988, when the Air Force publicly acknowledged the aircraft’s existence. The program’s total cost was apparently about $6.56 billion, with a unit procurement cost of approximately $42.6 million per F-117; elsewhere, an F‑117A unit cost is listed as about $45 million.
The F-117 was conceived in the 1970s, when US defense planners sought a platform able to penetrate dense air defense networks. Advances in radar-absorbing materials and computer modeling enabled Lockheed engineers to design an angular, faceted airframe with a very low radar cross-section. The first flight occurred on June 18, 1981, and the type entered operational service two years later. Unlike its “fighter” designation implied, the Nighthawk was designed exclusively for precision ground-attack missions, focusing on survivability and accuracy rather than speed or maneuverability. The aircraft was controlled by the 4450th Tactical Group and later the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, refining stealth penetration tactics through the 1980s. Operational doctrine required night strikes against high-value targets such as command centers, radar installations, and air defense systems. The Air Force ultimately procured 59 aircraft between 1981 and 1990 (though some sources list 64), forming several squadrons that became a core component of US precision strike capability.
Combat history began in December 1989 during Operation Just Cause, when two F-117As struck targets in Panama. Its first major campaign came in Operation Desert Storm, where F-117s flew 1,271 sorties and achieved a reported 80 percent mission success rate, striking heavily defended Iraqi positions without combat losses. Equipped with precision-guided bombs such as the GBU-27, the aircraft neutralized radars, hardened bunkers, and command sites. In Operation Allied Force in 1999, one aircraft, call sign Vega 31, was lost to a Serbian SA-3 surface-to-air missile, underscoring the limitations of first-generation stealth when faced with adaptive defenses. F-117s also opened the 2003 air campaign against Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom. These operations highlighted the aircraft’s utility for first-strike missions against well-defended targets. The F-117A, for its part, had been introduced in the early 1980s to give the Air Force a stealth strike capability against high-value targets, with key changes over prototypes focused on integrating precision-guided munitions and refining its low-observable coatings.
The F-117 was officially retired in 2008 after more than two decades of service. Factors included its lack of speed and agility, the aging of its stealth coatings, and the arrival of more advanced stealth platforms such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, making it redundant. For instance, the F‑22 uses significantly newer stealth technology, while the F‑117’s older faceted design results in a higher radar cross‑section. By the time of its retirement, the Air Force maintained 52 aircraft in hangars at Tonopah, with wings removed for storage. The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act had initially required that they be preserved in a recallable condition, but this was later repealed in 2016, paving the way for gradual disposal. As of early 2023, about 45 remained in inventory, with several transferred to museums and a disposal rate of two to three jets per year. Despite retirement, sightings and official statements confirmed that a portion of the fleet continues to fly in research, development, and training roles, with maintenance contracts envisioning continued support until at least 2034.
General characteristics of the F-117A include a length of 20.08 meters, a wingspan of 13.20 meters, and a height of 3.78 meters. The aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight is around 23,800 kilograms, powered by two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofan engines without afterburners. It has a maximum speed of approximately Mach 0.92, a combat range of around 1,720 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 13,700 meters. Its primary armament consists of two internal weapons bays capable of carrying a variety of precision-guided munitions, most notably the 2,000-pound GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bomb. The F-117A has no air-to-air radar or guns, relying instead on stealth, infrared targeting systems, and precision guidance for survivability and effectiveness. Avionics included a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and downward-looking infrared (DLIR) system for targeting and navigation, supported by an inertial navigation system and mission computers. The distinctive faceted design minimized radar returns, though at the cost of aerodynamic efficiency, requiring sophisticated fly-by-wire controls for stability.
Since retirement, the aircraft’s role has shifted entirely to training and experimentation. Air Force officials have acknowledged their use as stealth surrogates in combat exercises, where they act as adversary platforms resembling potential foreign stealth aircraft or simulate cruise missiles in air defense drills. They have also supported evaluations of new radar systems, infrared tracking, coatings, avionics, and, in some cases, discussions of possible autonomous operation. Using the Nighthawk for these purposes allows the Air Force to preserve flight hours on more advanced and costly aircraft. As of 2025, sightings of F-117s remain frequent across Nevada and occasionally in other US states, reinforcing that while the aircraft is no longer part of the active combat fleet, it continues to provide utility in preparing the Air Force for modern and future challenges.
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According to the National Security Journal on August 20, 2025, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber, officially retired in 2008, continues to fly in the skies above Nevada. Although its combat days ended nearly two decades ago, the US Air Force had to acknowledge that several aircraft remain in use for specialized training and testing missions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Air National Guard disclosed in 2021 that F-117s had been used as surrogate cruise missile targets during integrated air and missile defense exercises, allowing units to hone detection and intercept tactics against stealth-like profiles. (Picture source: US DoD)
Civilian sightings over the years had already revealed regular activity, forcing the service to confirm that the aircraft were operating from locations such as the Tonopah Test Range and Groom Lake. The aircraft now serve multiple roles, including training new pilots in stealth flight techniques, acting as adversary surrogates during exercises, and supporting the development of radar, infrared, and sensor technologies. They also appear in exercises as cruise missile surrogates and help refine tactics against potential stealth threats from other nations.
The Tonopah Test Range, situated about 27 nautical miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada, and 140 miles northwest of Las Vegas, has been central to this continued activity. Established in 1957 to support nuclear weapons testing by the Atomic Energy Commission, later the Department of Energy, it eventually grew into a multi-role site managed by the US Air Force. The airfield features a 12,000 by 150 foot runway, more than fifty hangars, extensive taxiways, instrument approaches, lighting for nighttime operations, and support facilities including maintenance hangars, storage tanks, and personnel housing. Its remoteness and controlled access made it ideal for classified projects. In addition to supporting the Department of Energy, Tonopah has hosted evaluations of foreign aircraft, electronic warfare testing, and advanced stealth programs. Today, it continues to serve as a secure location for both Air Force and DOE operations.
The F-117 program became closely tied to Tonopah in the early 1980s. After initial test flights of the YF-117A began at Groom Lake in 1981, the Tactical Air Command’s 4450th Tactical Group shifted to Tonopah to bring the aircraft to operational readiness. Beginning in 1979, Tonopah was reconstructed with expanded runways, security fencing, lighting, new hangars, and housing facilities for personnel. By 1983, the F-117 had achieved initial operating capability. The program remained classified, with flights restricted to night hours and aircraft hidden in hangars by day. To mask the program’s existence and train pilots while only a few F-117s were available, the unit used A-7D Corsair IIs and later T-38 Talons. Personnel commuted weekly between Las Vegas and Tonopah, living at a secure complex known as Mancamp. Security extended to access points, manuals locked in vaults, and continuous surveillance of the surrounding terrain. The secrecy continued until 1988, when the Air Force publicly acknowledged the aircraft’s existence. The program’s total cost was apparently about $6.56 billion, with a unit procurement cost of approximately $42.6 million per F-117; elsewhere, an F‑117A unit cost is listed as about $45 million.
The F-117 was conceived in the 1970s, when US defense planners sought a platform able to penetrate dense air defense networks. Advances in radar-absorbing materials and computer modeling enabled Lockheed engineers to design an angular, faceted airframe with a very low radar cross-section. The first flight occurred on June 18, 1981, and the type entered operational service two years later. Unlike its “fighter” designation implied, the Nighthawk was designed exclusively for precision ground-attack missions, focusing on survivability and accuracy rather than speed or maneuverability. The aircraft was controlled by the 4450th Tactical Group and later the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, refining stealth penetration tactics through the 1980s. Operational doctrine required night strikes against high-value targets such as command centers, radar installations, and air defense systems. The Air Force ultimately procured 59 aircraft between 1981 and 1990 (though some sources list 64), forming several squadrons that became a core component of US precision strike capability.
Combat history began in December 1989 during Operation Just Cause, when two F-117As struck targets in Panama. Its first major campaign came in Operation Desert Storm, where F-117s flew 1,271 sorties and achieved a reported 80 percent mission success rate, striking heavily defended Iraqi positions without combat losses. Equipped with precision-guided bombs such as the GBU-27, the aircraft neutralized radars, hardened bunkers, and command sites. In Operation Allied Force in 1999, one aircraft, call sign Vega 31, was lost to a Serbian SA-3 surface-to-air missile, underscoring the limitations of first-generation stealth when faced with adaptive defenses. F-117s also opened the 2003 air campaign against Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom. These operations highlighted the aircraft’s utility for first-strike missions against well-defended targets. The F-117A, for its part, had been introduced in the early 1980s to give the Air Force a stealth strike capability against high-value targets, with key changes over prototypes focused on integrating precision-guided munitions and refining its low-observable coatings.
The F-117 was officially retired in 2008 after more than two decades of service. Factors included its lack of speed and agility, the aging of its stealth coatings, and the arrival of more advanced stealth platforms such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, making it redundant. For instance, the F‑22 uses significantly newer stealth technology, while the F‑117’s older faceted design results in a higher radar cross‑section. By the time of its retirement, the Air Force maintained 52 aircraft in hangars at Tonopah, with wings removed for storage. The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act had initially required that they be preserved in a recallable condition, but this was later repealed in 2016, paving the way for gradual disposal. As of early 2023, about 45 remained in inventory, with several transferred to museums and a disposal rate of two to three jets per year. Despite retirement, sightings and official statements confirmed that a portion of the fleet continues to fly in research, development, and training roles, with maintenance contracts envisioning continued support until at least 2034.
General characteristics of the F-117A include a length of 20.08 meters, a wingspan of 13.20 meters, and a height of 3.78 meters. The aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight is around 23,800 kilograms, powered by two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofan engines without afterburners. It has a maximum speed of approximately Mach 0.92, a combat range of around 1,720 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 13,700 meters. Its primary armament consists of two internal weapons bays capable of carrying a variety of precision-guided munitions, most notably the 2,000-pound GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bomb. The F-117A has no air-to-air radar or guns, relying instead on stealth, infrared targeting systems, and precision guidance for survivability and effectiveness. Avionics included a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and downward-looking infrared (DLIR) system for targeting and navigation, supported by an inertial navigation system and mission computers. The distinctive faceted design minimized radar returns, though at the cost of aerodynamic efficiency, requiring sophisticated fly-by-wire controls for stability.
Since retirement, the aircraft’s role has shifted entirely to training and experimentation. Air Force officials have acknowledged their use as stealth surrogates in combat exercises, where they act as adversary platforms resembling potential foreign stealth aircraft or simulate cruise missiles in air defense drills. They have also supported evaluations of new radar systems, infrared tracking, coatings, avionics, and, in some cases, discussions of possible autonomous operation. Using the Nighthawk for these purposes allows the Air Force to preserve flight hours on more advanced and costly aircraft. As of 2025, sightings of F-117s remain frequent across Nevada and occasionally in other US states, reinforcing that while the aircraft is no longer part of the active combat fleet, it continues to provide utility in preparing the Air Force for modern and future challenges.
