The International Directory of Military Aircraft 1998/99 - Softcover

Frawley, Gerard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1875671323 ISBN 13: 9781875671328

Publisher: Aerospace Publ., 1998

Synopsis

The thoroughly revised and updated second edition of the only biennial directory of the world's military aircraft. It features over 310 individual military aircraft types (from the F-22 Raptor to the AH-64 Apache, MiG-21, C-130 Hercules and Canadair Tutor) and their many individual variants that are currently in service or under development (15 new aeroplanes are included which did not feature in the first edition). Each aircraft listing features a photograph and details of its powerplant/s, performance, weights, dimensions, armament, accommodation, operators, and development and operational history. In addition it features a listing of the inventories of the world's air arms and a concise review of the major developments and trends of the past two years in the world of military aviation. Full colour with 330+ photographs. It is due to be replaced by The International Directory of Military Aircraft 2000/01 in the first quarter of 2000.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

The following is the International Directory of Military Aircraft's entry for the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the famous "Stealth Fighter". The style is representative of the 310 or so other aircraft entries in the book.

Country of origin: United States of America

Type: Low observable precision strike fighter

Powerplants: Two 48.0kN (10,800lb) non afterburning General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 turbofans.

Performance: Max level speed 1040km/h (560kt), normal max operating speed Mach 0.9. Unrefuelled mission radius with a 2270kg (5000lb) weapon load 1055km (570nm).

Weights: Estimated empty 13,380kg (29,500lb), max takeoff 23,815kg (52,500lb).

Dimensions: Wing span 13.20m (43ft 4in), length overall 20.08m (65ft 11in), height overall 3.78m (12ft 5in). Wing area 84.8m2 (913.0sq ft).

Accommodation: Pilot only.

Armament: Usually two 910kg/2000lb bombs, either BLU-109B low level laser guided bombs or GBU-10 or GBU-27 laser guided bombs, in internal weapons bay. Can also carry AGM-65 Maverick or AGM-88 HARM ASMs and AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs. No provision for external stores carriage.

Operators: USA

History: Lockheed's 'Black Jet', the F-117 Nighthawk was designed in utmost secrecy from the ground up as a stealthy attack fighter.

Development of the F-117 traces back to the mid 1970s when the US Air Force awarded Lockheed's Advanced Development Company - the Skunk Works - a contract under the Have Blue program to develop an attack aircraft that would be very difficult to detect with radar. Two XST (Experimental Stealth Technology) Have Blue prototypes were built, and the first of these flew for the first time from Groom Lake in Nevada in December 1977. The two Have Blue demonstrators were powered by two small General Electric CJ610 turbojets and were similar in overall configuration to the ensuing F-117 except for inward canted tailplanes. Both XSTs had crashed by 1980.

Development of the operational F-117A began in November 1978 under the Senior Trend program, with the first of five preproduction F-117s flying for the first time on June 18 1981, while the first of an eventual 59 production F-117As was delivered in August 1982.

The F-117s were operated by the 4450th Tactical Group in complete secrecy at the remote Tonopah Test Range and all flights were undertaken at night. It was not until late 1988 that the veil of secrecy surrounding the F-117 was lifted when the US DoD confirmed the aircraft's existence and the type began flying daylight missions. Today they equip the 37th Fighter Wing, based at Holloman AFB, New Mexico.

The F-117 uses a range of features to defeat radar and to remain undetected, or to be detected too late. Most obvious is the Nighthawk's faceted airframe construction and the avoidance of straight lines on doors and panels, so that radar energy is reflected in all directions. The airframe is also covered in a range of radar absorbent material (RAM) coatings. The two non afterburning F404 engines' gases mix with bypass air and exit through platypus exhausts to reduce their infrared signature.

The USAF's surviving F-117s are being fitted with an upgraded navigation system and are expected to remain in service to 2015.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aerospace Publ.
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1875671323
• ISBN 13: 9781875671328
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208