[img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/412e5ff34bb515dfe6b7fc2a0d432166a074e194.gif[/img] Today we’re taking a look at the F-117A stealth aircraft that’s coming to War Thunder in the Firebirds major update as a new squadron vehicle! [h2][b]F-117A:[/b] A Squadron Vehicle Strike Aircraft for the USA at Rank VI[/h2] At a glance: [list] [*] Reduced radar and IR seeker signature! [*] Air-to-surface guided weapons. [*] No guns at all. [*] No countermeasures. [*] Subsonic. [/list] [b]Vehicle History[/b] [expand type=details] The F-117A Nighthawk program began in the United States in the 1970s, under pressure from the high performance of Soviet anti-aircraft missiles in Vietnam and the Middle East. The U.S. Air Force and DARPA conducted classified research into stealth combat aircraft, with Lockheed being awarded a contract to develop the project. The first F-117A prototype made its maiden flight in 1981. Officially accepted into service in 1983, the aircraft remained classified for a long time. Between 1988 and 1995, the F-117A was upgraded under the OCIP II program, receiving an improved cockpit with digital displays and more sophisticated flight control systems. Being the world’s first stealth aircraft, the F-117A Nighthawk took part in several operations, including the invasion of Panama, the Gulf War, as well as combat operations against Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq. [/expand] [h2]Meet the F-117A Nighthawk![/h2] A quite unusual aircraft is coming to the game in the Firebirds major update, and that’s the F-117A Nighthawk! This is an American strike aircraft joining the game as a squadron vehicle and will also be the first aircraft in War Thunder to feature stealth technology. Let’s have a closer look! Confidential details: ███ ███████ ██ █ ████████████ █████████ ██████ ███████████ █████ ████ █████████ ███ █████████ ██ ██████ ██████████████ [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/3208e711510cfd7e6a81fff6405ac352d191cba3.jpg[/img] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/733691183012144bf3b19dc1451185954476f6b2.jpg[/img] Visually stunning, the F-117A is a highly specialized aircraft that was supposed to perform a very limited number of combat missions, but perform them better than any other aircraft. When the enemy has modern anti-aircraft systems, radar stations and IR missiles, the best chance of mission success is when the aircraft being used remains undetected for as long as possible. [b]Did you know?[/b] During Operation Desert Storm, the F-117A flew over 1,200 sorties and suffered zero aircraft losses. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/1b2a9b651f90a03912c98f8f05e78a10cdb509f2.jpg[/img] To reduce radar visibility, the Nighthawk is made with as few protruding elements as possible. The geometry of the fuselage and wing is formed by flat panels placed in a special way to help reflect electromagnetic waves away from the radiation source. In addition to this, the F-117A uses radar-absorbing materials and ferromagnetic paint, and the engine nozzles are hidden by complex shielding mechanisms! So, will the F-117A’s real-life stealth aspects help in War Thunder? Yep! In-game, this aircraft will have a significantly smaller IR and radar signature compared to aircraft of the same size. In practice, this will mean anti-aircraft vehicles will detect the Nighthawk at a much shorter distance than conventional aircraft, plus anti-aircraft and air-to-air missiles will have a trickier time locking onto it. In Ground Battles, this means when you spawn in with the F-117A, you’ll have more opportunities to drop weapons closer to ground targets, hit them, and return to the airfield without even being noticed. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/6794c40575b141edb629b11a44eea889351357c7.jpg[/img] [b]Important to note:[/b] Stealth does not prevent detection entirely, it only makes it harder for aircraft to be detected. Being stealthy is cool n’ all, but what about weapons? The F-117A has no machine guns or cannons whatsoever. It also has no air-to-air missiles and no countermeasures, meaning it’s completely unsuitable in any sort of air combat engagement. Being a dedicated stealth attack aircraft, the F-117A can only use a variety of bombs which are located in an internal bay, however only two can be carried at once. To get into the specifics, the F-117A can launch high-precision weapons, including laser guided bombs such as the GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-10, GBU-27 and satellite bombs such as the GBU-31 and GBU-38. In addition to these laser-guided bombs, the F-117A can also carry conventional bombs with aiming assisted by a ballistic computer. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/bda4928c43ade0343fde2e116b9e643ae7502733.jpg[/img] [b]Interesting:[/b] Only one F-117A has ever been shot down, occurring in March 1999 during the Kosovo War. The man responsible, Zoltán Dani and the F-117A pilot who was shot down, Dale Zelko, met after the incident and are now friends. The wreckage of Zelko’s F-117A is now at the Belgrade Aviation Museum. As for performance, the F-117A is quite difficult to control, is subsonic and in general does not boast any outstanding flight characteristics. Due to its very specific role and somewhat poor flight performance, the F-117A will be at rank VI with a fairly low Battle Rating when the Firebirds major update is released. Ultimately, this is a special aircraft with special capabilities, making it a suitable squadron vehicle. And just like other squadron vehicles in War Thunder, the F-117A can be yours by collecting enough squadron activity points or purchasing it outright with Golden Eagles if you’d prefer. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//4649813/42128ff9b5c3e9dda54487b568002d116d2c6d3b.jpg[/img] Intrigued? That’s it for today, but there’s still a lot more to come. Keep an eye on our website for more dev blogs coming soon to the Firebirds major update. See you around and have fun! [i]Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.[/i]