A Stealthy Goodbye

Jeff Taylor | November 3, 2006

The Wobblin' Goblin is winging into retirement after 25 years on the job. The F-117A stealth fighter was quietly retired this week at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Reports are that 55 of the aircraft were originally built, but the exact number is classified, as is any attrition over the years. The new F-22 Raptor is to replace the F-117A and presumably take up its stealthy, tactical first-strike mission.

Some wild speculation out there: Perhaps the F-117A is not quite as invisible to radar as the aircraft had been only a few years ago. Military tech does not often stand still for very long.