Reviving F-117A Nighthawk - key solution to Air Force capability gap

The B-21 Raider, intended as the next-generation stealth bomber, is delayed, and the current fleet of stealth bombers remains insufficient, amidst these challenges, the F-117A Nighthawk—officially retired in 2008 but still maintained in secretive capacities—emerges as a potential solution.

The US Air Force is grappling with a significant capability gap as it retires aging warplanes without adequate replacements, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

With delays in the B-21 Raider's rollout and a shortage of current stealth bombers, reviving the F-117A Nighthawk may provide a practical and cost-effective solution.

- Despite being officially retired in 2008, the F-117A Nighthawk has continued to play a role in classified testing, underscoring its ongoing value.

- Instead of investing in expensive next-generation aircraft, the Air Force could modernize the F-117A to meet immediate combat needs, filling critical gaps until new planes are available.

- With rising geopolitical tensions, restoring the Nighthawk’s operational capabilities could become a strategic necessity.

The US Air Force faces a pressing issue: rapid retirement of aging warplanes and delays in acquiring replacements. The B-21 Raider's development setbacks and the dwindling number of stealth bombers have left the Air Force in a precarious position.

The F-117A Nighthawk, retired from active service in 2008, has not been fully sidelined. Though it hasn’t seen combat recently, it has been intermittently used for classified testing. This ongoing utility suggests that the Nighthawk still holds significant potential. The Air Force has leveraged its stealth capabilities for testing new technologies, indicating its enduring relevance in the modern aerial combat environment.

By reviving and modernizing the F-117A, the Air Force could address its current shortfall in stealth capabilities and maintain a tactical edge during a period of rapid technological evolution and geopolitical uncertainty.

In 2017, Congress authorized the US Air Force to begin retiring its F-117 Nighthawk fleet at a rate of four airframes per year. This process mandated that the aircraft be either scrapped or sent to museums. However, by 2022, the retirement plan was scaled back to two or three airframes per year. The exact status of the remaining F-117A inventory is unclear, though the Air Force reported having 51 jets in 2019, with at least 12 earmarked for museums. The process of preparing these aircraft for public display involves extensive modifications to remove classified systems.

Given the rigorous decommissioning required for these advanced aircraft, the question arises: should the F-117A Nighthawk really be retired? The Air Force is facing a growing capability gap as it phases out older planes and awaits new systems like the B-21 Raider, which is unlikely to be available in sufficient numbers soon. The shortage of long-range stealth bombers, such as the B-2 Spirit, exacerbates this issue, potentially compromising critical air warfare functions.

Instead of investing heavily in costly next-generation platforms like the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, it may be more pragmatic to repurpose the F-117A Nighthawk. The aircraft could be modernized to fulfill current combat roles and adapt to modern warfare challenges. This approach could bridge the gap until new aircraft are fully operational.

The Air Force’s reluctance to fully retire the F-117A, even years after its official decommissioning, suggests its continued strategic value. By revitalizing and enhancing these stealth aircraft, the Air Force could address its immediate capability shortfalls and maintain its operational edge in an increasingly complex global landscape.