U.S. Air Force to keep retired F-117 Nighthawk stealth jets flying until 2034.

The officially retired F-117 Nighthawk will remain in limited U.S. Air Force flight operations through at least 2034, as a small number of aircraft remain airworthy to support training, testing, and sensor development activities.

As reported by 19FortyFive on January 14, 2026, the U.S. Air Force will continue operating a limited number of F-117 Nighthawk aircraft until at least 2034, despite the stealth attack aircraft’s official retirement in 2008. The F-117s, operating from Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada, are said to be used for non-combat roles including training, testing, and evaluation.
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In production terms, the Nighthawk fleet is relatively small, with a total of 64 units built, including 59 production F-117s and five YF-117A development aircraft, and the remaining inventory has been reported as 45 aircraft. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

The officially retired F-117 Nighthawk of the U.S. Air Force will continue flying in a limited capacity until at least 2034, extending the life of the world’s first operational stealth attack aircraft well beyond its 2008 withdrawal from combat service. The aircraft is no longer assigned to strike missions, but a portion of the fleet remains airworthy and active. These aircraft are operated from Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada, inside the Nevada Test and Training Range and near Nellis Air Force Base. The continuation reflects a deliberate choice to retain a mature low-observable aircraft for specific roles that do not require frontline assets. The fleet is shrinking through controlled demilitarization and museum transfers, but a subset remains usable. The result is an aircraft that is officially retired yet still flying under clearly defined constraints.

The F-117 was developed by Lockheed Martin as a single-seat, twin-engine stealth attack aircraft intended to penetrate dense air defense networks and strike high-value targets. It introduced operational stealth by combining a faceted external shape, radar-absorbent materials, and internal weapon bays to reduce radar cross section. Targeting relied on infrared sensors and a laser rangefinder or designator rather than onboard radar. Despite its fighter designation, the aircraft carried no air-to-air weapons and was designed exclusively for air-to-ground missions. The designation has been linked to secrecy and pilot management considerations rather than mission role. These design choices prioritized survivability and precision over speed or maneuverability. They also shaped how the aircraft is used today.

The F-117 entered service in 1983 and was publicly acknowledged in 1988 after several years of classified activity. It first saw combat in 1989 and became closely associated with precision strike missions during the 1991 Gulf War, where it flew a limited share of sorties but attacked a large proportion of high-value targets. The aircraft later operated over the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In 1999, one F-117 was shot down over Serbia by a surface-to-air missile, demonstrating that reduced observability did not eliminate vulnerability. The type also took part in the opening phases of the 2003 Iraq conflict. These operations defined its reputation as a precision strike aircraft for heavily defended environments.

The F-117 was officially retired in 2008 as newer stealth aircraft entered service, offering broader mission sets and more advanced low-observable characteristics. Instead of immediate disposal, most airframes were placed in controlled storage at Tonopah with wings removed and systems preserved. Over time, the inventory was reduced through demilitarization, transfers, and losses, while maintaining a limited number in flying condition. Current accounting has cited about 45 airframes remaining, with only a small subset active. Several aircraft have been allocated for museum display, and others are scheduled for disposal at a rate of roughly two to three per year. This approach supports continued use while steadily reducing the fleet.

In their current role, the remaining F-117s are said to be used by the U.S. Air Force for training and experimentation rather than combat. One function is to act as “red air”, providing a low-observable adversary aircraft so aircrew and air defense units can practice detection, tracking, and engagement of stealth-like targets. Another function is serving as a flying test asset for radar systems, infrared sensors, tracking methods, and signature-related concepts. The aircraft can also simulate stealthy cruise missile profiles during large-scale exercises. Using the F-117 for these tasks avoids committing modern frontline aircraft, but it also allows repeated exposure to a crewed low-observable target rather than a purely simulated one.

The F-117A is powered by two General Electric F404-F1D2 engines rated at 40.2 kN each and is limited to subsonic flight, with a maximum speed of about Mach 0.92. It has a length of 20.09 m, a wingspan of 13.21 m, a height of 3.78 m, and a maximum takeoff weight of 23,814 kg. Range is listed at about 1,720 km, with aerial refueling capability, and service ceiling reaches roughly 14,000 m. Low observability is achieved through faceted shaping and coatings, with radio-wave-absorbing materials weighing close to one tonne. These materials are bonded to the structure, with gaps filled by a putty-like compound. The aircraft’s stability is maintained by fly-by-wire controls due to its aerodynamically unstable design.

Armament is constrained by the requirement for internal carriage, with two internal weapon bays allowing a total load of two bombs. The aircraft has carried laser-guided bombs such as GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-16, and the GBU-27 Paveway III, the latter associated with hardened targets. Later integration included GPS-guided munitions such as the GBU-31 and GBU-38. The absence of air-to-air weapons or a gun reinforces its single-purpose air-to-ground role. This limited but precise payload, combined with low observability, underpins its continued value for training and testing. As a result, the F-117 remains relevant as a controlled, real-world low-observable aircraft while the Air Force prepares for future air combat challenges.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.