The Lockheed F-117A Blackjet is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground attack aircraft operated solely by the United States Air Force (USAF). It was the first operational aircraft initially designed around stealth technology. Also known as the Nighthawk, it has a string of other nicknames. Before it was given an official name, engineers and test pilots referred to it as “Cockroach”, a name that is still sometimes used. As it prioritized stealth over aerodynamics, the first model was nicknamed “The Hopeless Diamond”. It was also called “Wobblin’ Goblin” due to its alleged instability at low speeds. Locals in the area around Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) referred to it as simply “Stealth”.

The unique design of the F-117A provides exceptional combat capabilities. The aircraft can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems. A digital avionics suite increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. The first Blackjet was delivered in 1982, and the last delivery was in the summer of 1990.

The F-117A has been used several times in war. It first saw combat in the United States invasion of Panama, during which two Blackjets dropped two bombs on Rio Hato airfield. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, F-117As flew approximately 1,300 sorties and scored direct hits on 1,600 high value targets in Iraq. Although the F-117As flew through some of the most heavily defended areas in Desert Storm, not one aircraft was shot down or damaged.

Since moving to Holloman AFB in 1992, the F-117A has been deployed to Southwest Asia more than once. On the first trip of the 49th Fighter Wing, Blackjets flew nonstop from Holloman to Kuwait for approximately 18.5 hours – a record for single-seat fighters that stands today. The F-117A has since been used in the Kosovo War in 1999, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Only one aircraft has been lost in combat, to Serbian forces. On March 27, 1999, during the Kosovo War, an Isayev S-125 Neva-M shot down an F-117A with a Serbian improved Neva-M missile. The pilot survived.

Despite its successes in the Kosovo and Iraq Wars and its high mission-capable rate, the F-117A was nevertheless designed with late 1970s technologies. Program Budget Decision 720, dated December 28, 2005, proposed retiring the entire fleet by October 2008 to make way for more F-22 Raptors. By late 2006, the Air Force had closed the F-117A pilot school, and announced the retirement of the Blackjet. The first six F-117As to be retired made their last flight on March 12, 2007 after a ceremony at Holloman AFB to commemorate the aircraft’s career.