F-117

[Rich H]

Why is the Nighthawk labeled as a fighter, while it carried and dropped bombs?

[C]

At the time, a little bit of dis-information perhaps, and also, when you think of it, is the F-15E a fighter? The F-111...


...Just a thought.

[Rich H]

I guess more than one of their planes is oddly done, is there a technicality for the USAF to justify labeling these planes as fighters?

[C]

I guess more than one of their planes is oddly done, is there a technicality for the USAF to justify labeling these planes as fighters?

With the F-117 is has to be remembered that for the first 8 years of its life, no one knew what it did or what it looked like.

[an-225]

I think that the F-117 was designed with the capability of launching Sidewinders. I recall that Nighthawk pilots trained to launch said missiles, but obviously the production F-117 lacks that capability.

[Leigh]

I watched a show about them a few months ago and IIRC they said the pilots the pilot the Nighthawks are fighter pilots and they wanted to feel better about flying a bomber

Plus if you cant see it what does it matter be it B or F

[Isak922]

Multiple reasons:

To fool enemy intelligence;

The F-117 flies differently than any bomber aircraft out there. It maneuvers like a Fighter. So, they needed pilots who were used to flying that way. Calling it a "F-117" versus a "B-117" would mean that their Fighter Mentality would be satisfied.

The F-117 reportedly can carry missiles... However, it's still only designed to carry two separate munitions at a time. They find that it's Stealth Capabilities, along with it's performance envelope are enough to protect the plane, preferring it to carry two 2000lb bombs instead.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

I think that the F-117 was designed with the capability of launching Sidewinders. I recall that Nighthawk pilots trained to launch said missiles, but obviously the production F-117 lacks that capability.

That is true if what the USAF says is true. One of the early missions of the plane was to take out enemy AEWCS planes using stealth, making them blind on the battle field, but they found out during testing from what I herd that the E-3 put out so much energy when it scans that it can see it coming before it would be in firing range of sidewinders, So it could call for help from a faster fighter and direct it in the direction the F-117 was coming or heading too. I herd they did still did train with the dummy configuration of the launcher and the missiles.  

Also not sure if it was true or not but the USA and the USSR signed a treaty not to build more bombers, since they were trying to reduce arms in the day, hence the "Fighter" designation.