Posted on 03/25/2024 11:28:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
U.S. Air National Guard photo
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The US Air Force (USAF) is on track to certify the iconic Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk for aerial refueling on its latest tanker, the Boeing KC-46, by the end of March 2024.
Despite the F-117 fleet’s retirement from active service, the USAF is moving forward with plans to integrate it into the KC-46’s refueling capabilities.
Andrew Hunter, the USAF’s acquisition boss, disclosed the inclusion of the F-117 as a receiver for aerial refueling during a testimony to the House armed services projection forces subcommittee on March 12, 2024, as first reported by Aviation Week.
The F-117 Nighthawk, the first operational combat aircraft designed with stealth as its main characteristic, was retired in 2008. However, a select number of these aircraft have been retained for various purposes, including training exercises and the development of new air combat tactics. With less than 45 examples still in service, the USAF intends to maintain these assets, with maintenance contracts extending until 2034 to preserve their stealth characteristics.
KC-46 Pegasus certification continues
In addition to the F-117A Nighthawk, the KC-46A Pegasus must also obtain certification for performing in-flight refueling of the E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft and the upcoming B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber.
The A-10 ground attack aircraft, which is set to retire in the next three to five years, has failed its certification test. This aircraft, along with several others in the USAF’s fleet, was unable to generate enough thrust to connect the boom’s nozzle to the aircraft’s receptacle. According to Hunter, the USAF still has enough Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers operational to service the A-10 until its retirement.
Finally, the new version of the KC-46’s Remote Vision System, RVS 2.0, was expected to launch in 2024 before being deferred to 2025, is likely to face another delay and launch in 2026 instead. In 2019, shortly after the tanker’s first delivery to the USAF, the RVS developed by Rockwell Collins was found to be unreliable in certain lighting conditions and exhibited motion discrepancies with real life.
Despite the F-117 fleet’s retirement from active service, the USAF is moving forward with plans to integrate it into the KC-46’s refueling capabilities.
Must be a need for F-117’s..................
Despite the F-117 fleet’s retirement
Why waste the money to do that unless there are F-117’s still out there in service..................
....I thought at first this was some sort of article from the past, but no.....this bird was retired some 16 or so years ago and now there are plans to certify what remaining A/C for KC-46 refueling...? waste of money IMHO ...
There must be a good reason for doing so.
Maybe they are ‘retired’ in name only................
Something makes me believe they intentionally designed it to fail the A-10.
Sell them to the Israeli Air Force!
But passed the F-117.
Maybe they are SECRETLY retrofitting the F-117’s to replace the A-10?.............
Might be a good idea to have a supply of “second tier” stealth aircraft available for use in a secondary/lower sophistication theater.
Thinking your first tier would be needed for a peer/near-peer conflict (N Korea/PRC) and this tier could be used for a simultaneous conflict (Yemen/Iran).
Smart move, imo.
That means it’s still in use for something.......
It’s partially retired.
This comes mere weeks before the highly anticipated announcement that the F4-U Corsair has been approved to use third party replacement vacuum tubes.
What a fascinating modern age.
I’ll see you and F-4 and raise you an F-105...............
I first wondered why go through this exercise. Then I remembered the F-117 is still used for training our pilots to detect stealth aircraft with our modern fighters and technology.
“and now there are plans to certify what remaining A/C for KC-46 refueling...? waste of money IMHO ...”
Just a certification ticket. No big expense.
Why? The F117 has been retired for 16 years and will just be another plane for training that already has a long list of workable aircraft. Examples of such jet trainer aircraft include the supersonic Northrop T-38 Talon, Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, the BAE Hawk, the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, the Aero L-39 and Aero L-159, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, the Guizhou JL-9 and the Yakovlev Yak-130.
How much is enough?
wy69
Why? The F117 has been retired for 16 years and will just be another plane for training that already has a long list of workable aircraft. Examples of such jet trainer aircraft include the supersonic Northrop T-38 Talon, Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, the BAE Hawk, the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, the Aero L-39 and Aero L-159, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, the Guizhou JL-9 and the Yakovlev Yak-130.
How much is enough?
wy69
What if it’s not really retired, just being held in reserve for future needs?.....................
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