The F-117 Nighthawk (AKA ‘The Stealth Fighter’) Can’t Stay Retired

The F-117 Nighthawk (AKA ‘The Stealth Fighter’) Can’t Stay Retired

PUBLISHED 8/5/2025 at 8:44 PM EST – Key Points and Summary – The F-117 Nighthawk, the world’s first operational stealth aircraft, was officially retired in 2008 but continues to fly regularly. The U.S. Air Force still uses the iconic jet as a cost-effective platform for several key missions. Primarily, it serves as a unique “aggressor” trainer, simulating foreign stealth aircraft like China’s J-20 to prepare U.S. pilots for modern threats. It al…