F-117 Nighthawk: The Stealth ‘Fighter’ That Spawned the F-22, F-35, and F-47 NGAD

F-117 Nighthawk: The Stealth ‘Fighter’ That Spawned the F-22, F-35, and F-47 NGAD

Jack Buckby, a New York-based defense researcher and national security analyst, evaluates the enduring legacy of the Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk. Despite its official retirement in 2008, recent 2025 and early 2026 sightings over the Tonopah Test Range and refueling from KC-46 Pegasus tankers confirm that the "Wobblin' Goblin" remains an active asset for "Red Air" training and stealth-coating research. This report analyzes the 1999 shoot-down…