F-117A: Variant Aircraft (2024)

In October 1991,a sudden interest developed in Washington to revive production after thehype of Desert Storm. Although the proposal was endorsed by the SenateArmed Services Committee, it was fiercely opposed by the Air Force, whichultimately prevailed in eliminating funding for the project and killingthe F-117 purchase.

The post Desert Storm party was over for the F-117A, and it became the essence ofWashington politics todisplay a lowered regard for the F-117A. Lockheed, whose F-22 had justbeen chosen as the USAF ATF, was told not to campaign for a new F-117production contract. Push for more F-117's, and the F-22 will go down inflames. A company official said "Lockheed's being terrorized."

However, the SkunkWorks did retain it's tools and jigs to put the F-117A back intoproduction. Although the parent company Lockheed would no longer push forF-117's, Skunk Works started a number of internal projects to offer anew and improved F-117 to potential buyers. From these internal projectscame the F-117A+, F-117B, F-117B (British, or F-117C), F-117N, andA/F-117X and other minor proposals.

It should benoted that since these are internal projects they have never beencancelled. Although government funding might have been cancelled at onepoint or another, these projects are still alive and well within TheSkunk Works.

RF-117A

This proposed conversion of the standard F-117A was conceived for reconnaisance missions, and there were to be two configuration choices. Although some strike capability was to be retained, the first option included a bomb bay-mounted pallet with a sideways-looking EO sensor in the ventral canoe. The price for 24 recce kits was $213 million. This palletizedinstallation would permit the aircraft to be converted back to the attackconfiguration in about four hours. The second proposal envisioned an integral recce suite with an IRLS, a small EO camera and a datalink, and would have allowed the aircraft to retain full combat capability. The aircraft would possibly be modified tocarry the ATARS camera system in one weapons bay, and a synthetic apertureradar (SAR) in the aircraft's other weapons bay. At an estimated cost of $520 million, a 1992 proposal would have added 24 RF-117A's to F-117A production.

Senator Sam Nunn, a very knowledgeable defensefigure on Capitol Hill, declared "The Air Force already has more than1,600 F-16's, and buying 72 more will provide only a marginal increase incapability. Buying 24 more F-117A's for the same amount will provide a50% increase in the number of aircraft that proved to be the superstar ofDesert Storm." The Senate voted to cancel the F-16's and called on theUSAF to order the F-117's. Such a vote is often overtaken by some latervote and that was the case causing the additonal F-117A purchases not to happen.

F-117A+

Lockheed proposed to the USAF an ambitious upgrade with enhanced low observable (LO) technologies anf the aircraft was to be fitted with the same undercarriage as the F-15 Eagle and an F414 engine with afterburner. The prototype conversion was projected to cost $79 million. Details havenot been released, although Paul Martin says the upgrade involves "full-scaledevelopment of 18 advanced low-observable technologies. Lockheed proposedreplacing the engines, new all weather sensors, lowprobability of intercept communication, global navigationing receivers.

F-117B

The first Stealth Fighter to be designated was F-117B was conceived as a late-production configuration when an 89-aircraft fleet was seriously proposed in 1983. The aircraft was to be fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and LPI radar, and have AGM-88 HARM compatability. It was to be based on the standard F-117A-type airframe.

F-117B/YF-117B

The F-117B designation was then to be applied to an aircraft with an enlarged weapons bay and an increased span of 64 ft 11 in, as well as a reduced wing sweep (42 or 48 degrees) and reduced-sweep V tails. The later were to be augmented by conventional slab tailerons. There was also supposed to be an increase in range to 820 miles from the F-117A's 570 miles.

F-117B

A subsequent F-117B variant was proposed that combined features of the F-117+ (enhanced LO, an F-15 type undercarriage and an afterburning F414 engine) and those of the YF-117B. This aircraft would have featured a 73,260 lb (33,230 kg) MTOW, and an 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) payload comprising four 2,000 lb LGBs. It was to have had a 1,000 nautical mile unrefueled radius.

"F-117C"

The F-117A version proposed to Britain's Royal Air Force in 1995 has been refered to as the "F-117C" by some authors in print, though this designation may be inncorrect. It was to be a baseline F-117A, possibly fitted with an un-gridded B-2 Stealth Bomber type intakes, a F-22 type clear-view canopy, British avionics, F414 or EJ200 engines, plus a number of BAE structural components or sub-assemblies. It was being suggested to meet the Staff Target (Air) 425 deep-strike requirement that was fulfilled by the Panavia Tornado GR.Mk4, which was scheduled for retirement in the the begining of the 21st century. Confusingly, this proposal was also referred to as the F-117A+ and F-117B (B for "British").

F-117N

This original proposal to the US Navy was a standard F-117A with an off-the-shelf automatic carrier landing system (ACLS) and some limited corrosion proofing. This proposal was superseeded by the F-117X.

F-117N (II)

Based on the YF-117B/F-117B, this variant was to have a 65,700 lb (29,801 kg) MTOW and be equipped with powered wing folding, an arrester hook, an off-the-shelf F-14 main undercarriage and probably an F/A-18 type nose gear. This proposal was also replaced by the F-117X concept, which was rejected in mid 1993 in favor of the A/F-117X.

F-117X Sea Hawk

The F-117X designation covered the proposed conversion of a single F-117A intended to serve as a technology demonstrator and naval/carrier-borne "proof-of-concept" aircraft for low-speed handling trials and simulated carrier landings. Lockheed hoped for a 255-aircraft order at a unit price of $70 million. The engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) cost was estimated at $3.1 billion. The idea was dropped in favor of the F-117N (II) concept.

A/F-117X

A derivative of and replacement for the F-117N, this proposed variant was submitted as a potential alternative to the joint advanced strike technology (JAST) aircraft. It was to be fitted with an afterburning F414 engine, LPI multimode (air-to-air and air-to-ground) radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM compatibility, expanded bomb bays (10,000 lb [4,536 kg] internal bomb load), provision for an 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) external bomb load (for "end of war" missions after an enemy's air defenses have been degraded) and three section spoilers forward of trailing edge flaps. The A/F-117X was proposed for a "silver bullet"-type strike force to augment F/A-18E/F Hornets. Lockheed hopeed to procure between 40 and 75 aircraft.

---------------------------------------Lockheed documentscredit the A/F-117X with AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9Sidewinder air-to-air missile capability. The pictures/diagrams show theAIM-9/AIM-120 rails on the interior sides of theA/F-117X's (fully bulged) bomb bay doors. Although it was not stated, itis implied that the F-117B also has these capabilities.

F-117B
Max. T.O. wt.: 73,200 lbs. (vs. F-117A's 52,500 lbs.)
Unrefueled combat radius: 980 miles (vs. F-117A's 570 miles)
Internal payload: 10,000 lbs. (vs. F-117A's 5,000 lbs.)
Payload: AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9, LGB
Advanced all-weather sensors
Improved low observability
Engines: afterburning GE F414 (2)
Aerodynamic improvements (including new wing and tail)

Shorty afterDesert Storm offered the US Navy a minimally changed F-117A as the F-117N.(Reported in the September 13, 1993 Aviation Week, pg. 96)Inherent structural features of the F-117A fuselage enable it tobe effectivly modified specifically for Navy use. The F-117Apossesses three primary Navy characteristics not normally found in Air Force aircraft. These are: a full-depth center keel from nose gear totail hook; three full-depth fuselage frames for wing carry through; andthe main landing gear being attached directly to a major bulkhead.
Lockheed thoughtthe Navy could use it like the Air Force uses it's F-117As-have a smallstrike force that's routinely deployed on boardcarriers that would be able to help beat down air defenses and leveragethe conventional airplanes that are on the ship. Originally the planwas for 40 to 70 aircraft.
The Navy criticizedthat the F-117N was for a single mission aircraft for night operations.After the Pentagon rejected the F-117N in mid 1993, Lockheed went back tothe drawing boards to modify the F-117N so that itmet the requirements for the canceled A/F-X program and presented theA/F-117X in mid 1994.

For the A/F-117X Lockheed added an afterburningGeneral Electric F414 engine, the same one that powers the F/A-18E/F.An elongated platypus section was added to accommodate the largerengines. The A/F-117X also had an advanced radar/infraredsuite, which would have provided an all-weather air-to-ground andair-to-air-missile capability. The latter, with the added maneuveringcapability provided by the afterburning engines, would turn the F-117 intomore of a multi mission aircraft according to Lockheed officials. TheA/F-117X met all of the A/F-X requirements except for the "carrier deckspotting factor".
The internal payloadcapacity was doubled-from the current 5,000 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. by enlargingthe bomb bay. The keel was dropped 19 in. and the doors replaced creatinga shallow, elongated bulge underneath the fuselage. The bulge added somedrag, but did not adversely effect aerodynamics or stealthiness accordingto Lockheed. Two stores pylons were also added under each wing to allowfor external carriage of an additional 8,000 lbs. of fuel or ordinance.Other features included a "very high resolution ground targeting radar,navigational forward looking infrared (FLIR) system, and an infrared search and track capability". (See World Air Power Journal #19, Winter1994).

Thefuselage and landing gear were further modified and strengthened forshipboard operations. The A/F-117X had a much-revised trapezoidalhorizontal tail (to control the landing pattern approach angle and descentrate), with the horizontal stabilizers resembling those of the F-22.The A/F-117X included all the Navy standards-a carrier qualified arrestorhook, folding wings for deck storage, F-14 undercarriage, and twinnosewheels (possible F-18) with catapult tie bar.
The wing sweep waslessened to 42 degrees while the span was increased by 21.45 ft. The wingalso featured double-slotted trailing edge flaps and three-sectionspoilers forward of flaps for improved low-speed approach handlingcharacteristics.
The A/F-117X wouldfeature access to equipment bays with "tail over water" and/or one enginerunning. Lockheed documents credit the A/F-117X with AIM-120 AMRAAM andAIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile capability. The pictures/diagrams show the AIM-9/AIM-120 rails on the interior sides of the A/F-117X's (fullybulged) bomb bay doors. Flyaway cost was estimated at 70 million peraircraft in 1994, based on a 250 aircraft production run.
In apush for modular production and allegedcost savings, Lockheed proposed that the US Navy and Air Force execute ajoint program to build both the F-117B and A/F-117X.
The SenateArmed Services Committee earmarked $175 million to initiate a programdefinition phase and flying demonstrator of the new production aircraft.

A/F-117X (reconfigured F-117N) "Seahawk"
Similar to F-117B
Max. T.O. wt.: 73,200 lbs. (vs. F-117A's 52,500 lbs.)
Unrefueled combat radius: 980 miles (vs. F-117A's 570 miles)
Internal payload: 10,000 lbs. (vs. F-117A's 5,000 lbs.)
Payload: AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9, LGB
Engines: afterburning GE F414 (2)
Wing sweep: 42 degrees (vs. F-117A's 67.3 degrees)
Wing Span: 64 ft.9.4 in (vs. F-117A's 43 ft 4 in)
Folding outer wing panels
F-22 style clear canopy
All-moving tailerons for roll control
Strengthened undercarriage
F-14 Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS)

(Thank you Venik for the scans.)

In June 1994, F-117Programs vice president (and later Skunk Works vice president) Paul Martin said that the F-117A+, F-117B,and A/F-117X proposals were being briefed in Washington. Says Martin,"We're not gold-plated, we keep our team lean, and we work with thecustomer to provide the production he wants. We're the experts onlow-rate production."

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