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Old 12th Mar 2008, 00:45
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GreenKnight121
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: by the Great Salt Lake, USA
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The replacement for the F-117 is indeed in service.

It is called the F-22.

Yes, the F-22 has a limited strike capability... but remember the F-117 was only capable of carrying 2 x 2,000 lb bombs (or 2 x 1,000 lb, etc.)... hardly a world-beating capability there.

The F-117 had its IR/laser target location/designation system... and it is also a 27+ year old one.

Note that, of 59 F-117 built, 7 crashed, 10 were retired in December 2006 and 27 since then. That meant that only one squadron (15 aircraft) is still in operation.

In contrast, 4 active USAF, one reserve USAF, and one ANG squadrons are operational with the F-22 (the reserve & ANG squadrons share aircraft & maintenance tasks with the active squadrons).
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