3. Stealth fighter F-117 Nighthawk
Joined the Service in 1983
Producer: Lockheed
Price: *$111 million
The F-117 Nighthawk, the first operational stealth aircraft in history, changed the face of aerial combat when it was originally introduced in the 1980s. Its angular, faceted form was groundbreaking, scattering radar waves and making it practically invisible to opposing defenses. It was developed by Lockheed Martin’s covert Skunk Works division.
Wikimedia Commons/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II/F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter
The Nighthawk was not a conventional fighter because it lacked air-to-air weapons, but it was excellent at carrying out targeted attacks against valuable targets and was often able to sneak past highly developed air defense systems. Its recognizable silhouette—which resembled a flying arrowhead—became a symbol of the American military’s technological advancements. The F-117 was retired in 2008, but its reputation as a pioneer in stealth technology lives on.
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