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Stealth fighter's mystique adds to its arsenal

September 13, 1996
Web posted at: 10:30 p.m. EDT

stealth

From Correspondent Carl Rochelle

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Mysterious and menacing, the F-117 stealth fighter became a star of the Gulf War in 1991. In its opening nighttime strikes, the stealth fighter flew undetected right over Baghdad, dropping laser-guided bombs with pinpoint accuracy.

That dazzling feat came to symbolize an unstoppable high-tech military of the future. Not a single stealth was lost or even scratched.

What makes the plane unique is a design that either deflects or absorbs radar, making it virtually invisible to radar searches on the ground and able to penetrate deep into enemy territory.

icon "America knows ... if we're going to place people in harm's way in Iraq -- servicemen, U.S. servicemen -- this is the platform to do it," said stealth fighter pilot Capt. John Moring of the U.S. Air Force. (213K/28 secs AIFF or WAV sound)

The plane, officially called the Nighthawk Stealth Fighter, flies combat missions only at night, for good reason. As its pilots point out, the fighter is not invisible to the eye. On a clear day, its black color and chunky shape make it stand out against the sky.

Cloudy weather doesn't help either, because although it would hide the plane, it would hinder the plane's laser targeting system, which has trouble penetrating clouds.

Evolved into bomber

The F-117, which first flew in 1981, was meant to be a fighter. It has proven suitable only as a bomber because it's neither fast nor agile. Its top speed is only 640 mph, and it can only fly about two hours without refueling, making its range limited.

But the stealth fighter does carry a powerful punch: two 2,000-pound bombs that, unlike cruise missiles, can penetrate hardened concrete bunkers like those that house Iraq's air defense command and control center.

Also unlike the missiles, the bombs can hit targets like mobile missile batteries.

"I believe that the stealth fighter should have been used the first time," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who sits on the Armed Services Committee. "They are much more capable as far as the kind of weaponry that they can deliver, which has far more penetrating capability."

stealth

During its development in the 1970s and '80s, the stealth fighter was one of the country's best-kept secrets, flying only at night to escape the prying eyes of journalists and Soviet satellites.

But now, the United States touts its capabilities and publicly announces its deployment, using the stealth fighter's mystique as a weapon of intimidation against Iraq.

It is not the only U.S. aircraft capable of precision strikes, but its ability to evade radar makes it much less likely to be shot down. That strength is a strong factor for U.S. officials, who want to avoid the spectacle of a captured pilot being paraded through the streets of Baghdad.

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