The 1991 Gulf War brought the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk into the public eye and demonstrated the operational potential of stealth aircraft on a large scale.
Developed by Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the F-117 was designed to reduce its radar signature through its distinctive faceted shape, materials and careful mission planning. During Operation Desert Storm it was used for precision attacks against heavily defended, high-value targets, particularly in and around Baghdad.
The aircraft’s combination of low observability and laser-guided weapons allowed it to operate against targets that presented significant risks to conventional strike aircraft. Its contribution became one of the defining aviation stories of the conflict.
The F-117 was not invisible to radar, but its reduced radar signature changed the way planners approached penetrating sophisticated air defences. Its operational use helped demonstrate the value of stealth technology that would feature prominently in later aircraft programmes.
Michael Rondot’s Black Jet captures the distinctive F-117 and the atmosphere surrounding an aircraft that became synonymous with the opening nights of Operation Desert Storm.
