A pilot recounts his experiences flying NATO missions in a F-117 stealth fighter over Kosovo in 1999.

Discusses the design and equipment of the stealth attack fighter known as the F-117A Nighthawk and its use by the U.S. Air Force in military missions.

The history and combat experience of the most secretive plane ever built, illustrated with stunning colour photographs of the plane as it stalked the skies above Iraq. During the final years of the 20th century, the most significant break-through in military weaponry was the concept of Stealth technology, and the first mass-produced weapon to utilize this to perfection was the F-117 Nighthawk. Originally delivered in 1982, its existence was officially denied until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when it entered the public spotlight over the skies of Baghdad. Illustrated with stunning color photographs of the F-117 above Iraq, and complemented by numerous personal accounts from the pilots themselves, this book explores the most classified aircraft ever constructed.

The F-117A Stealth Fighter is designed to be undetectable by radar. Developed in great secrecy during the Cold War, it spearheaded the air assault on Iraq in 1991. At the Controls investigates the secret origins of the Stealth program and how the F-117A is able to penetrate heavily defended airspace that no other plane could venture near. At the Controls takes you on a combat mission with the F-117A, revealing how to attack enemy command bunkers with laser-guided bombs and how to defeat modern antiaircraft defenses.

"Much of [this book] is devoted to a basic discussion of how stealth works and why it is effective in reducing the number of shots taken by defensive systems. Treat this little primer as a stepping off point for discovering more of the complexities of low observability. ... [This book] should also shed light on why complex technologies like stealth cost money to field. The quest for stealth is ongoing... In fact, stealth aircraft will have to work harder than ever. The major difference from 1998 to 2010 is that defense plans no longer envision an all-stealth fleet. ... The radar game of 2020 and 2030 will feature a lot of assists and the tactics that go along with that."--P. 7.

The F-117 Nighthawk was the world's first operational aircraft designed and built to utilize stealth technology. It was developed specifically to attack high-value targets and escape without being detected by hostile radar systems. The F-117 first saw action during Operation Just Cause in Panama in December 1989, it owned the skies over Iraq during Desert Storm in early 1991, and it supplemented NATO's Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia and Kosovo. This photography-driven history follows the design, construction, and flight-testing of BLUE-01 and BLUE-02, Lockheed's original demonstrator aircraft. The focus then shifts to the Scorpion Flight Test Team and the development of the F-117 from its first flight through its Initial Operational Capability approval. Only recently has the veil of secrecy surrounding the F-117 and its history been lifted, allowing the general public to learn about this groundbreaking aircraft and its amazing development team. F-117 Stealth Fighter Photo Scrapbook contains never-before-seen photography covering the design, construction, and development of the F-117 and its service history in Operation Desert Storm.

"Have Blue and the F-117A: Evolution of the "Stealth Fighter" documents the history, observations, and lessons learned from the development and acquisition of the first very-low-observable combat aircraft. The book is a case study of the high-payoff, low-profile strike fighter development effort (code-named "Have Blue" and "Senior Trend"). In 1991, the aircraft played a key role in the air campaign against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The book describes the clear vision, strong leadership and teamwork, rapid-response decision making, and keen focus on achieving an operational capability that marked the project. Also discussed are potential applications of the strategies used in the project to today's acquisition environment.