In the skies over the United States, the F-117 is increasingly seen. Why do Americans use a forgotten fighter jet

October 31 2020 37

F-117 fighters are increasingly seen in American airspace. On October 30, 2020, for the first time in 12 years, a single-seat subsonic tactical stealth strike F-117 Nighthawk ("Nighthawk"), with the call sign "Knight", took to the skies from the Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas (Nevada), writes online -published The Drive from the USA.

Prior to that, the F-117 flew in California. They took off from the Miramar airfield in San Diego and the Edwards Air Force Base, located 30 kilometers from the cities of Lancaster and Rosemead.

For some reason, the Air Force needed long-forgotten fighters, which first took off in 1981 and were decommissioned in 2008. Experts talk about their return to service, because they are designed for covert penetration through the enemy's air defense system.

Now the F-117s are increasingly used as an "aggressor" (an aircraft that plays the role of a simulated enemy). In 2020, they even took part in the Red Flag War Games.

In recent years, the activity of the F-117 has increased significantly, but it is not yet clear what their return to the Nellis means. Perhaps this base will become the main base for the "red aviation", and American pilots will hone their skills there, participating in training flights with the F-117.

The Air Force removed the F-117 from active service, but the pilots of the Air Force Test Center still use them for limited research work.

- explained in the aviation command.

The F-117 is a unique aircraft, its stealth characteristics are in themselves of interest to extend its service. Flying or stored F-117 remained about 40 units, all the rest, of 64 produced, became museum pieces.

US Air Force

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Cyril

+1

31 October 2020 14: 27

Why are Americans using a forgotten fighter jet?

F-117 never been a fighter and did not think so. It is subtle tactical bomber.

And the plane is really unique, especially for its time.
Afinogen

+4

31 October 2020 14: 28

The F-117 is a unique aircraft, its stealth characteristics are in themselves of interest to prolong its service.

There is nothing unique about it. Another military failure of the Americans. Because of the iron-shaped aerodynamics, it does not fly without a computer. As for his stealth, the Yugoslavs probably did not know this (no one told them) shot him down with an outdated Soviet-made air defense system.
1. boriz
  
  +1
  
  31 October 2020 15: 11
  
  Not at all ...
  The Yugoslavs knew that, the Americans simply did not know that they would use meter-band radars against them. All these broken tricks are sharpened exclusively for the centimeter range. And the radar of the meter range - figs all these bells and whistles.
  1. Cyril
    
    -4
    
    31 October 2020 15: 26
    
    The Yugoslavs knew that, just the Americans did not know that they would use meter-band radars
    
    But the Yugoslavs shot down the F-117 using visual rather than radar guidance.
    
    And to shoot down one plane in its 850 sorties is, frankly, a failure of the Yugoslav (that is, Soviet) air defense.
  2. Cyril
    
    -1
    
    31 October 2020 15: 28
    
    And the radar of the meter range - figs all these bells and whistles.
    
    True, the great radars of the meter range (Soviet-made, by the way) why did not help the Iraqis in 1991 to shoot down at least one "stealth" in 1299 sorties of this type of aircraft
    
    I wonder why? :)
2. Cyril
  
  -3
  
  31 October 2020 15: 23
  
  Because of the iron-shaped aerodynamics, it does not fly without a computer.
  
  I'll tell you a secret - just shhhh, don't tell anyone - but without EDSU (that's exactly what it's called correctly), highly maneuverable and all such aerodynamic Su-27, Su-30, Su-35, MiG-29, MiG-35 do not fly , F-15, F-16, F-22, and in general any modern fighter, no matter what aerodynamics they have. Actually, because of this highest aerodynamics, all of the listed aircraft at subsonic speeds are statically unstable. In other words, at subsonic without a "computer" all such "aerodynamic" Su-27 will not fly in the same way as the "iron-like" F-117.
  
  As for his stealth, the Yugoslavs probably did not know this (no one told them) they shot him down with an outdated Soviet-made air defense system.
  
  First, the Yugoslavs shot down the F-117 with an upgraded version of the S-125 air defense system, developed in the 70s. For you, it may be a secret, but the F-117 was also developed in the late 70s, and entered service in 1983.
  
  Secondly, the Yugoslavs shot down the Stealth not with the help of radar (against which the stealth technology was conceived), but with the help of direct visual aiming through a thermal imaging sight. Before that, they spent days tracking the routes along which the American "stealth" flew, and only when they identified the route of one of them, they were able to watch for him and shoot him down. In total, in order to shoot down one plane, they had to wait out several of his sorties, during which he bombed this very Yugoslavia with impunity.
  
  Thirdly. During the entire NATO operation against Yugoslavia, F-117s flew 850 combat missions. Of these 850 departures combat loss ended only 1. And this is taking into account the fact that due to its specific aerodynamics, the F-117 could not effectively dodge even old anti-aircraft missiles, and even more so to conduct an air battle.
  
  And in the military operation against Iraq in 1991, the Stealths flew 1299 combat missions - and none of them was shot down, despite the fact that Iraq at that time had a fairly modern and dense Soviet-made air defense system.
  
  Summary. Before writing your stories, take the trouble to study at least a little the essence of the issue.
  1. Afinogen
    
    +2
    
    31 October 2020 16: 08
    
    Quote: Cyril
    First, the Yugoslavs shot down the F-117 with an upgraded version of the S-125 air defense system, developed in the 70s.
    
    Not in 70 but in 60
    
    Quote: Cyril
    Secondly, the Yugoslavs shot down the Stealth not with the help of radar (against which the stealth technology was conceived), but with the help of direct visual aiming through a thermal imaging sight. Front
    
    It is by radar. It seems that you yourself do not know the essence of the question.
    Here's the information from the source. The man who knocked down the invisibility himself tells how the whole thing was and there is no need to invent anything ...
    1. Cyril
      
      -2
      
      31 October 2020 16: 55
      
      Not in 70 but in 60
      
      F-117 was shot down by a 5V27D missile. And now we read:
      
      In the second half of the seventies in the air defense system introduced equipment that increases the effectiveness of the use of targets at extremely low altitudes and when firing at ground and surface targets. In addition, a new modification was created SAM 5V27D with an increased flight speed, which made it possible to fire targets "in pursuit". The length of the missile defense system increased, the mass increased to 980 kg with the mass of the starting booster - 407 kg. But for the heavier 5V27D, it was allowed to load the 5P73 with only 3 missiles. The S-125M1 complex with a 5V27D missile was adopted on May 3, 1978.
      
      https://missilery.info/missile/c125
      
      Learn to search for information at least a little. It's not difficult.
      
      It is by radar. It seems that you yourself do not know the essence of the question.
      Here's the information from the source. The man who knocked down the invisibility himself tells how the whole thing was and there is no need to invent anything ...
      
      Yeah. And Zoltan also told how he shot down a B-2 and 2 more F-117
      
      And now we read the official report of the commander of the 3rd battery of the 250th air defense missile brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Djordje Anichia:
      
      We arrived at the firing position at about 20:30. We install rockets using special tools. The climbing angle is high. There is some vibration and I don't know what's going on in the cockpit. He took the place of the assistant to the head of the observation group instead of Major Stoimenov. Dani is in the launcher control unit. No close targets were found in the air, they are at farther distances on different courses. Suddenly, according to the readings, an object was detected on the radar at a heading of 195 degrees, a distance of 23 kilometers. I say: "Dani, he's coming at us!" The object is approaching. At a distance of 14-15 km at a rate of 210 degrees, the commander of the fire group, Lieutenant Colonel Zoltan Dani, ordered to begin monitoring the object. Antenna password to turn on the radar. From that moment on, the game of cat and mouse begins. The radar does not find a target for 10 seconds. I order: "Stop target search!" A few seconds later, Dani detects a target at a course of 230 degrees at the time of observation. Quite quickly, in a couple of seconds, the installation was rotated several times, however, manual control operators could not catch the object in the field of view. It is moving, obviously, with tremendous angular velocity. Surveillance for more than 10 seconds, after which I give the command: "Stop target search!"
      
      Again we see the target, the course is 240 degrees, the distance is 14 km. The flight path is tracked on the radar screen... We are trying to move the warheads for the third time to azimuth 240. The officers unlock the wheels, however the object is lost... I thought that we would not succeed this time, too, when Senior Sergeant Matic exclaimed: "Hold him, hold him, we have him!" The wheels are locked, the operators have found the object. Stable tracking mode, heading 242 degrees, distance 14,5 km. (…) The support officer reports: azimuth 250 degrees, distance 13 kilometers.
      
      Dani ordered: "Hit the target direct fire, launch! "
      
      In total, they received a stable and stable signal from the aircraft on the radar only when it was 13-14 km from the air defense system.
      
      And directly the capture and launch of the target was carried out with direct visual guidance using manual control of the rocket
      1. Afinogen
        
        +3
        
        31 October 2020 17: 17
        
        Quote: Cyril
        And now we read the official report of the commander of the 3rd battery of the 250th air defense missile brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Djordje Anichia:
        
        Laughed heartily. Why read something, it is not clear who wrote on the vast expanses of the Internet, when in the video he himself tells how everything was. I have more faith in the man who himself shot down the plane and who himself tells how it was.
        
        Cyril
        
        -3
        
        31 October 2020 17: 31
        
        Why read something by someone who is not clear written on the vast expanses of the Internet
        
        Djordje Anich is the deputy commander of the very air defense battery that shot down the Stealth :)
        
        But you can continue to laugh - this is the only thing that you do well.
  2. Afinogen
    
    +1
    
    31 October 2020 16: 29
    
    Quote: Cyril
    I'll tell you a secret - just shhhh, don't tell anyone - but without EDSU (that's exactly what it's called correctly), highly maneuverable and all such aerodynamic Su-27, Su-30, Su-35, MiG-29, MiG-35 do not fly , F-15, F-16, F-22, and in general any modern fighter, no matter what aerodynamics they have. Actually, because of this highest aerodynamics, all of the listed aircraft at subsonic speeds are statically unstable. In other words, at subsonic without a "computer" all such "aerodynamic" Su-27 will not fly in the same way as the "iron-like" F-117.
    
    Do not confuse computers that help to fly and a computer without which it cannot fly immediately falls
    1. Cyril
      
      -3
      
      31 October 2020 17: 03
      
      Do not confuse computers that help to fly and a computer without which it cannot fly immediately falls
      
      On the Su-27 and other highly maneuverable aircraft, the EMF does not "help to fly", but provides the very possibility of flying at subsonic speeds. Once again - no modern jet fighter can fly at subsonic speed without an EDSU.
      
      Another important feature of the T-10 for the first time in the domestic fighter aviation was to be implementation of the concept of longitudinal static instability of an aircraft at subsonic flight speeds ensuring its longitudinal balancing in flight by means of the automatics of a fourfold redundant fly-by-wire control system (EDSU). The idea of replacing the traditional mechanical control wiring with an EDSU was already used by the OKB when creating the T-4 aircraft, the tests of which confirmed the correctness of the main technical solutions. The adoption of the concept of longitudinal static instability (otherwise - "electronic stability") promised serious advantages: to balance the aircraft at high angles of attack, it was necessary to deflect the stabilizer toe up, while its lift was added to the lift of the wing, which gave a significant improvement in the bearing properties of the fighter the growth of his resistance. Thanks to the use of an integral statically unstable layout, the Su-27 was supposed to acquire exceptional maneuverability, allowing it to carry out evolutions in the air that are inaccessible to conventional aircraft, and to have a long flight range without outboard tanks.
    2. Cyril
      
      -3
      
      31 October 2020 17: 38
      
      In order, unlike you, not to be unfounded, with a specific example I will show that the Su-27 cannot fly with an inoperative EDSU:
      
      On April 6, 2011, at 10:22 am Moscow time, during a scheduled flight while approaching the Tsentralnaya Uglovaya airfield, the Su-27SM aircraft, which is part of the 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, based near Vladivostok, lost control and fell from a height of 900 meters onto a non-residential building in the summer cottage village of Solovey Klyuch... No one was hurt on the ground. The pilot Yuri Korolev ejected. The cause of the crash was remote control system failure... Previously, the aircraft underwent a planned modernization at KNAAPO
      
      This is how the highly aerodynamic Su-27 flies without an EDSU. With an ax.
      1. Afinogen
        
        +3
        
        31 October 2020 17: 59
        
        Quote: Cyril
        In order, unlike you, not to be unfounded, with a specific example I will show that the Su-27 cannot fly with an inoperative EDSU:
        
        "Cobra" This element appeared by accident. Pilot Igor Volk completed the figure when his Su-27, due to a tester's error, was taken out of the critical angle of attack and the fly-by-wire control system was out of order. The wolf tried to save the plane by turning off the automatic rudder control and realized that the Su-27 did not fall into a tailspin and returned to horizontal flight.
        
        The first to publicly prove the ability to perform this figure was military test pilot Viktor Pugachev in 1989. Therefore, the figure was named Pugachev's cobra.
        
        The practical application of this figure is an emergency speed reduction. This allows you to "shake off the tail" of the enemy fighter and deceive the radar stations.
        
        The plane lifts its nose to the sky, almost capsizing back, and then returns to normal flight mode with virtually no loss of altitude.
        I think when they do aerobatics they turn off this system because it will not allow such a tumble in the sky.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        31 October 2020 18: 12
        
        But what does "cobra" have to do with it?
        
        It was written in black and white - the Su-27 crashed while landing. The reason is the failure of the EDSU. Everything.
        
        Or in your universe, planes come in "cobra" to land?
        
        Afinogen
        
        +2
        
        31 October 2020 18: 21
        
        Why don't you read well? It is written that the EDSU refused, not only did it bring it into horizontal flight and, of course, sat down. And then someone here writes that without EDSU you can not fly without sitting. When the pilots are doing aerobatics, they do everything manually. EDSU will not allow them to do this.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        31 October 2020 18: 41
        
        Yeah, but on April 6, 2011, when the Su-27 EDSU failed during the landing approach (not after aerobatics), something did not enter the normal flight mode. How so?
        
        When the pilots are doing aerobatics, they do everything manually. EDSU will not allow them to do this.
        
        Exactly. In fact, aerobatics are moments of controlled instability in an aircraft. To make such a controlled instability possible, the EDSU is turned off. Controlling the aircraft in this case requires excellent piloting skills from the pilot, otherwise the aircraft will stall. Therefore, in fact, during the performance of aerobatics, accidents most often occur.
        
        Afinogen
        
        +3
        
        31 October 2020 18: 49
        
        Quote: Cyril
        In order for such a controlled instability to be possible, the EDSU is turned off. Airplane control in this case requires excellent piloting skills from the pilot,
        
        And I have been writing about this as much as you have admitted it yourself. Without EDSU, the plane can be piloted (judging by the aerobatics of our pilots, it's not even bad), but it is heavier. But the F-117 is not. This is the difference.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        31 October 2020 19: 01
        
        But the F-117 is not.
        
        The F-117 can also fly without EDSU, only the risk of stalling is too great. The aerodynamic quality of this aircraft is 4 units. For comparison, the MiG-25 has this figure of only 4,2. At the same time, the MiG-25 quite flew for itself (although it was not capable of special maneuvers) without an EDSU.
        
        (judging by the aerobatics of our pilots, it's not even bad)
        
        To fly a Su-27 without an EDSU, the pilot must be an ace. This level of piloting is achieved only by a few, so in real combat it is still practically not used.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        31 October 2020 18: 46
        
        By the way, did his EDSU remain disconnected after the plane was brought into level flight, or did it turn on again?
        
        Afinogen
        
        +3
        
        31 October 2020 18: 53
        
        I won't lie, I don't know. But when the EDSU refuses just before landing, this is one thing the pilot does not have time to orient himself, and when he refuses to fly, he can somehow prepare for this and sit on the hand. It is difficult to manage, but it is possible.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        31 October 2020 19: 11
        
        I won't lie, I don't know.
        
        Find where to find a detailed report on this flight. It's just that if the EDSU did not turn on and the pilot was able to continue the flight and land the plane in manual mode - ok, accepted. If the EDSU turned on immediately after the aircraft was brought to a horizontal position and then it flew with an already functioning EDSU, it is a completely different matter.
        
        shadow
        
        +3
        
        31 October 2020 21: 54
        
        Does the C-125 have a visual?
        
        Cyril
        
        -2
        
        1 November 2020 04: 33
        
        Yes.
        
        SAM S-125M1 (S-125M1A) "Neva-M1".
        In the early 1970s. the modernization of the S-125M complex was carried out in terms of improving the electronic equipment, which ensured an increase in the noise immunity of the target sighting and missile control channels. Introduction of equipment for television-optical sighting (TOV) and target tracking "Karat-2" (9SH33A) the possibility was achieved in conditions of visual observation of the target to conduct its tracking and shelling without radar radiation into space.
        
        shadow
        
        +4
        
        1 November 2020 05: 34
        
        Only it was the S-125 complex. And visually the second F-117 was shot down from the MiG-29 and it had a missile with visual guidance.
        
        Cyril
        
        -3
        
        1 November 2020 05: 43
        
        Only it was the S-125 complex.
        
        True, it was the S-125 M1 air defense system with the 5V27D missile - that's what I'm talking about.
        
        And visually the second F-117 was shot down from the MiG-29
        
        Here are just no "second", "third", "hundredths", etc., there were no downed F-117s :)
        One stealth was shot down. For some time the Serbs tried to rub in that they shot down 2 more F-117s and even 1 B-2, but when it came to evidence, they immediately quieted down.
        
        shadow
        
        +3
        
        1 November 2020 05: 47
        
        It was not an M1, but a simple one. Do not distort. Watch the direct speech of those who hit him on YouTube. It talks about the C-125. And keep your fantasies to yourself. Everything was, but you, as always, do not know. You have never been caught in a lie.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        1 November 2020 06: 35
        
        It was not an M1, but a simple one
        
        "Simple" C-125 has never been delivered abroad, ale, garage :)
        
        Look and be enlightened:
        
        A grand opening of a new exhibit - a launcher of a Soviet anti-aircraft missile system took place in the military museum of Belgrade C-125M "Neva", with anti-aircraft missiles B-601PD... According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Serbia, it was from this complex that the American F-18A stealth bomber was shot down 117 years ago. This was the loudest success of the Yugoslav troops in the fight against the NATO invasion.
        
        https://rg.ru/2017/03/25/sbivshij-amerikanskij-stels-zrk-ustanovili-v-muzee-belgrada.html
        
        And now you copy the code of the V-601PD missile indicated in the quote, go to this link
        
        https://l-39.aero/index.php/rabochie-proekty/9-rabochie-proekty/11-mig-19p
        
        You look at this point on it:
        
        Modifications:
        For air defense of the USSR
        S-125 "Neva" (1961) - the base complex, equipped with V-600P (5V24) missiles with a range of up to 16 km.
        S-125M "Neva-M" (1970) - development of a complex with V-601P (5V27) missiles with a range of up to 22 km.
        S-125M1 "Neva-M1" (1978) - a modernized version of the S-125M with improved noise immunity and missile equipment B-601PD (5V27D) with the ability to shoot in pursuit.
        
        You compare all this information in your head and you are glad that you have learned a lot of new and interesting things - in particular, that the Stealth was shot down by a modernized C-125 release of 1978, equipped with the Karat optical-television system.
        
        The comment was deleted.
        
        shadow
        
        +1
        
        1 November 2020 05: 57
        
        Six of the MiG-29s delivered to Yugoslavia in 1999 had a chance to resist NATO aggression, on the side of which such aircraft fought as Tornado, Mirage, F-16 and even the F-117 invisible. However, it can be called invisible only with a stretch, since it was the MiG-29 pilot who crashed one such aircraft, and from the very first attack on the fighter of the very first export version. F-1117A (pilot - Captain Ken Dvili) was destroyed by Lieutenant Colonel Gvozdny Dyukach on the third day of hostilities in a night air battle 32 km from Belgrade. According to the Serbian pilot, the Stealth was destroyed after it was visually detected by the first air-to-air missile, apparently the R-60M.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        1 November 2020 06: 37
        
        But Ducach did not provide any evidence (photo, video) :) But you continue to broadcast someone's stories - you do it well, oh
        
        shadow
        
        +3
        
        1 November 2020 12: 58
        
        I see you have a lot of evidence, you don't know where to look. Only one lala from you and nothing else. But as always.
        Simple was not supplied? Rather simple will ship than enhanced.
        And the people themselves say who shot down this plane, from which complex and how it was shot down. But you were there, you saw everything yourself? I'm not saying that there is no such complex at all, I'm talking about how the f-117 was shot down. And the program would not have been closed if he had been shot down alone.
        And why they remembered about him, but because the Americans have nothing else, so they are trying to somehow flex their muscles, but the trouble is, nothing comes of it.
        And yes, I will answer about the link in your own words: "why are you throwing off all kinds of nonsense to me, you never know what is written there")))
        
        Cyril
        
        -2
        
        1 November 2020 14: 00
        
        I see you have a lot of evidence, you don't know where to look. Only one lala from you and nothing else. But as always.
        
        You already screwed up with the "simple C-125 in Yugoslavia", so go for a walk :)
        
        shadow
        
        +3
        
        1 November 2020 14: 18
        
        My evidence is that people are participants in these events, and yours is an article written in 2017. 18 years after the events. So, who else of us screwed up.) Besides, as the film says: many events are already masked by many media, which is confirmed by your links.
        
        Cyril
        
        -4
        
        1 November 2020 15: 16
        
        My evidence is that people are participants in these events, and yours is an article written in 2017.
        
        My evidence is technical information about the modernizations of the Soviet anti-aircraft complex being produced.
        
        And in your "evidence" people may lie or simply not specify the information (as in the case of the mention of the general name of the C-125) as much as they like.
        
        shadow
        
        +2
        
        1 November 2020 15: 53
        
        The technical information does not prove what the f-117 was shot down with. Well, yes, people can lie. The article you are referring to was also written by people, and people, as you say, can lie. So they are lying. Moreover, more than 18 years have passed.
        Did they clarify in the article, or did they lie, but the truth-lover?
        And here it is written like this, are they also lying?
        
        https://topwar.ru/111761-v-serbskom-muzee-vystavlen-zrk-sbivshiy-amerikanskiy-samolet.html
        
        shadow
        
        +3
        
        1 November 2020 06: 01
        
        Well, yes, especially with the evidence, the US is doing well. That is why they underestimate their losses so that there is nowhere else to go. Storyteller.
Igor Pavlovich

-1

1 November 2020 10: 32

I read the battle of commentators and remembered an old Soviet anecdote:

- Is it true that Ivan Ivanovich won the Volga car in the lottery?
- True, only not Ivan Ivanovich, but Pyotr Petrovich, and not "Volga", but "Victory", and not in the lottery, but in cards, and not a car, but a watch, and did not win, but lost, but that's it the purest truth ...