Posted on 03/25/2024 11:28:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
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?.....................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.