Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Role:
Precision attack aircraft with stealth elements,
optimised for radar energy dispersion and low IR
emission.
DESIGN FEATURES:
Multi-faceted airframe designed to reflect radar energy
away from originating transmitter, particularly
downward-looking AEW aircraft; vortexes from many sharp
edges, including leading-edge of wing, designed to form
co-ordinated lifting airflow pattern; wings have 67
degrees 30' sweepback, much greater than needed for
subsonic performance, with aerofoil formed by two flat
planes underneath and three on upper surface; forward
underwing surface blends with forward fuselage; all
doors and access panels have serrated edges to suppress
radar reflection; internal weapons bay 4.7 m (15 ft 5
in) long and 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) wide divided
longitudinally by two lengthwise doors hinged on
centreline; boom refuelling receptacle on port side of
top plate, aft of cockpit. Frontal radar cross-section
estimated as 0.01 m{2} (0.1 sq ft).
LANDING GEAR:
Tricycle type by Menasco, with single wheels all
retracting forward. Loral brakes (steel originally,
being replaced by carbon/carbon), wheels (F-15E size)
and anti-skid system. Goodyear tyres. All doors have
serrated edges to suppress radar reflections. Emergency
arrester hook with explosively jettisoned cover;
Pioneer Aerospace braking parachute (black).
POWER PLANT:
Two 48.0 kN (10,800 lb st) class General Electric
F404-GE-F1D2 non-augmented turbofans. Rectangular
overwing air intakes with 2.5 x 1.5 cm (1 x {5/8} in)
heated grid for anti-icing and low observability.
Auxiliary air intake doors in horizontal surface
immediately to the rear. Part of cold air ingested
bypasses engine and is mixed with exhaust gases for
cooling. Narrow-slot 'platypus' exhausts, designed by
Astech/MCI, in rear fuselage, 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) long
and 0.10 m (4 in) high, with extended lower lip,
surrounded by heat tiles of type used on Space Shuttle
and with 11 vertical, internal guide vanes. Sundstrand
air turbine starter. In-flight refuelling receptacle in
decking aft of cockpit, illuminated for night
refuelling by lamp at apex of cockpit. Optional drop
tank on internal weapons pylon.
ACCOMMODATION:
Pilot only; McDonnell Douglas ACES II zero/zero
ejection seat. Five Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation
individually framed flat-plate windows, including
single-piece windscreen. Transparencies gold-coated for
radar dissipation. Canopy hinged to open upward and
backward.
SYSTEMS:
AiResearch environmental control, auxiliary power and
emergency power systems.
AVIONICS:
Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, with dual
fields of view, in recessed emplacement, covered by
fine mesh screen, below windscreen. Retractable
downward-looking DLIR and laser designator beneath
forward fuselage to starboard of nosewheel bay; FLIR
and DLIR by Texas Instruments (to be replaced by
improved equipment during third-phase retrofit in
1994). HUD based on Kaiser AN/AVQ-28; large head-down
display for FLIR imagery flanked by two multi-function
CRTs. Retractable radio antennae beneath fuselage,
ahead of port main landing gear, and on spine.
Honeywell radar altimeter, Honeywell SPN-GEANS INS
(replaced by Honeywell H-423/E ring laser gyro from
August 1991; Rockwell Collins GPS to be added); IBM
AP-102 mission computer (replacing original three Delco
M362F computers); GEC-Marconi flight control
computer/navigation interface and autopilot computer
(NIAC) system; SLI Avionic Systems Corporation expanded
data transfer system and AHRS. Harris Corporation
digital moving map added as retrofit with full-colour
MFDs.
ARMAMENT: Full range of USAF tactical fighter
ordnance', principally two 2000 lb bombs: BLU-109B
low-level laser-guided or GBU-10/GBU-27 laser-guided
glide weapons; alternatively, AGM-65 Maverick or AGM-88
HARM ASMs. Provision for AIM-9 Sidewinder (against
AWACS aircraft). Internal carriage on two extendible
beams in weapon bay. (Only missiles with seeker heads
extended below aircraft prior to launch; bombs released
from within weapons bay.)
Aircraft Measures:
Length: 65 ft., 11 in.
Height: 12 ft., 5 in.
Wingspan: 43 ft., 4 in.
Loaded Weight: 52,500 lbs
Aircraft Performance:
Maximum Speed: Mach .9
Service Ceiling: 52,500
Range: 1,250 miles
Thrust: 22,000 lbs