[WhoDatNotSayin]

Hi,

On rare occasion, an aircraft will be planned in a certain role but after changes and testing, it might end in another role. This happened with the F-117 which originally was intended as a fighter/bomber. Later it was only used in the bomber/strike role as advancing electronics gave new life to older fighter types which could do both the fighter and strike roles with good survivability. Examples of these are the F-18, F-15, F-16, and F-14 (before it was eventually retired). The advancements in electronics also saw some older bombers being extended in their roles such as the B-29 and A-10. Meanwhile, the F-117 was slid into the specialty role of STEALTH strike aircraft with radar jamming and strike on Command and Control.

Have you got a reference for that, Fireskull? As far as I'm aware, there were never any proposals for the project to carry air-to-air armament. And I can't see how it could ever have been intended as anything other than a stealth aircraft - relying on passive anti-radar measures rather than jamming.

[Guest]

Hi,

On rare occasion, an aircraft will be planned in a certain role but after changes and testing, it might end in another role. This happened with the F-117 which originally was intended as a fighter/bomber. Later it was only used in the bomber/strike role as advancing electronics gave new life to older fighter types which could do both the fighter and strike roles with good survivability. Examples of these are the F-18, F-15, F-16, and F-14 (before it was eventually retired). The advancements in electronics also saw some older bombers being extended in their roles such as the B-29 and A-10. Meanwhile, the F-117 was slid into the specialty role of STEALTH strike aircraft with radar jamming and strike on Command and Control.

Have you got a reference for that, Fireskull? As far as I'm aware, there were never any proposals for the project to carry air-to-air armament. And I can't see how it could ever have been intended as anything other than a stealth aircraft - relying on passive anti-radar measures rather than jamming.

I agree, It's engine are weak and would not be able to fill the supersonic role of a fighter aircraft of the time. As far as I know, the way it was designed with all those flat faces etc is part of its stealth design.

[Fireskull]

Hi, guys


Here is the story about how the F-117 has the "F" designation of a fighter after eventually becoming only a ground strike aircraft. In the case of the X-117 which was intended for two roles, the F-117 was put into the ground attack role in the end.


The X-117 at the earliest concept phase, was intended to have long range air-to-air capability and the ground strike role was to be included. With STEALTH there would be no need for manueverability or supersonic speed which would create too much noise thus defeating the STEALTH. The future STEALTH aircraft would depend on low or no visibility conditions and STEALTH to make attacks.

A need for more All-Weather aircraft was a strong influence as well as STEALTH against Radar. In other words, the low visibility conditions, STEALTH, and possible use of long range air-to-air missiles made the X-117 an attractive consideration for possible fighter role in those circumstances.

The engineers had seen the potential for long range air-to-air missiles with much greater effectiveness in the conceivable future at that time. Also, the probability of using Radar jamming missiles was expected. The logic of using the STEALTH for ground strike was to be kept because of the ability to destroy high value ground targets and survive.

With the digital age, many unforeseen advances in many areas of aviation, weapons, and counter-defense measures caused older conventional fighter types to aquire new, unexpected effectiveness in various roles. ( F-15, F-14, F-18, F-16, and possibility of a few others with expanded roles). The increase in the effectiveness of all air-to-air missiles in the West had a large part in the decision to make STEALTH steer hard toward exclusively the ground attack role. The night fighter role was filled by conventional fighters using the new electronics which allowed fighting in poor visibility and with longer range weapons. Conventional fighters also became much more effective at longer ranges in the ground strike roles.

Since technologies made the intended low visibility and STEALTH fighter role of the F-117 to be obsolete, the expensive program was fine tuned to an exclusive role.

The decision was made to make the F-117 to only be a STEALTH ground strike aircraft.

The F-117 excels at avoiding, jamming, and appearing invisible to radar and is typically used at night or in poor visibility to avoid being seen by ground observers. It has found a special role in attack on communications, radar centers, and Command and Control because its STEALTH makes it superior to conventional aircraft in these highly dangerous strikes.



It's worth noting that there is often disinformation on the part of the United States Air Force with the goal of confusing rival air force programs. This could easily be the case with the F-117.

Yes, the "F" generally stands for fighter. Here is a rare example of the shift to one role from having two roles, therefore the F-117 name.

[Blasph-Mossquitty]

Yes, SR stands for Supersonic Reconassaince.

[Storebror]

SR stands for Supersonic Reconassaince.

Thanks for letting us know. I wasn't aware of the RF-4E being subsonic :roll:

Best regards - Mike