F-117's being phased out starting as of now.

[pschelchshorn]

Read the article from the VIper Driver i posted #132.

 

He is telling that F-117 Strikes were "covered" by Vipers with HARMs to eliminate enemy SAMs.

 

 

which shows that the USAF was aware of the fact that the aircraft needed SEAD Cover.

 

Flip

[GGTharos]

We all know the F-117 - or any other stealth aircraft - is not invisible to radar. So, why not offer some distraction to the radar operators to keep their eyes elsewhere? In addition, there were -non-stealth- aircraft conducting strikes which needed SEAD cover more so than an F-117.

 

I don't think any stealth aircraft can really fly nilly-willy into defense nets and laugh'em off.

 

It can do so much more EASILY than a conventional aircraft, and that penetration capability is why they are so valued. But not nilly-willy. There's always a plan.

[Groove]

I don't think any stealth aircraft can really fly nilly-willy into defense nets and laugh'em off.

 

Now you destroyed my world of Stealthy Bombers from ze U.S. of A. ;)

[Pilotasso]

So it is always escorted by ECM platforms?

No because any ECM activity will give it away. Stealth is a better "jammer" and is completely passive. If an F-117 is already being tracked there is no point in making it even easier to the radar operators to light up a beacon they can see more clearly.

 

 

That’s the number in the article. It could be wrong or it could be right. Documentary is being made of an officer who commanded the SAM system that brought F-117 down. I hope we will get additional info about all of this.

 

Im not Doubting you, just the media who published the Articles or Documentaries, not because it is serb but because by experience many articles and documentaries made on the west have ludricous mistakes too. They rarely say somethin too precise because its classified, when they do specify numbers or concrete technical designations half of the times its borked up. These bogus info stand out like a sore thumb.

[TucksonSonny]

... Because they will be buying F-35's, dude.

 

As for detection at 53km ... were they able to track it through mountains or something?

 

 

The F-117 is stealthier than the F-35, dude :D

 

 

There is also the version of the Serbs having an S-300 unit during the Yugo war.

I remember that the US was accusing Russia of delivering one during the Yugo war period.

[nscode]

There is also the version of the Serbs having an S-300 unit during the Yugo war.

 

If we had it, there would be no war ;)

[TucksonSonny]

If we had it, there would be no war ;)

 

Anyway now you can join Nato and EU ;)

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Well......no

Then the enemy would know where the F117 might be in the cloud of ECM....:smilewink:

Without ECM support, F-117 was shot down by the air defense that was overwhelmed numerically and technologically. What gives?

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Im not Doubting you, just the media who published the Articles or Documentaries, not because it is serb but because by experience many articles and documentaries made on the west have ludricous mistakes too. They rarely say somethin too precise because its classified, when they do specify numbers or concrete technical designations half of the times its borked up. These bogus info stand out like a sore thumb.

I fully agree with you on this one Pilotasso.

[GGTharos]

I have a question: How many undetected, undisturbed F-117 sorties were flown in the area before and after the route of this one was leaked so that a listening post could be set up just for it?

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

There is also the version of the Serbs having an S-300 unit during the Yugo war.

I remember that the US was accusing Russia of delivering one during the Yugo war period.

Single S-300 system can not defend against 200 airplanes in the air attacking from multiple directions. About fifteen or twenty S-300 systems over small territory such as Serbia, within integrated air defense system that would include few dozens Su-30’s and MiG-29 SMT’s would probably do the job. Even that would be short lived in case of NATO military use over Yugoslavia. Because Yugoslavia was isolated by land and see, and Russia was under Jelcin.

[GGTharos]

Nope, in particular the S300 system can only defend against 6 aircraft simultaneously from one general direction - just like the Patriot. The difference is that the tracking radar can be slewed to the desired general direction - but if you get 2A/C east, 2 north, you can only attack one pair, not both. One of'em is going to do something bad to you.

 

This is why such systems are not deployed singly - as a singleton it is not just a speed bump, it is a small speed bump.

[ViperEagle]

I think it's been mentioned before, but stealth does not an invisisble plane make. The key to actually using it effectively is using it in a combined force op with SEAD/DEAD aircraft flying as shotgun cover for it. Also something that is needed is not being predictable or consistant with your approach routes. As was mentioned, if you fly the same routes, same speed, same altitude night after night, eventually you'll get caught.

 

Also, from what I heard from a F-117 pilot turned F-15 pilot, the F-117 in question was bagged by the very NVA tactic of spamming the skies with active radar and semi-active radar missiles, one just got lucky enough to bag the -117.

 

And think about this, the military in all chances did request permission to take out the crash site and any location holding the debris. Because it was a war waged from 20,000 feet, and it had to be ass-kissed all the way because the politicians kept a hammer lock on targets, the politicians likely didnt want to appear to be "dirty" and destroy the remains and kill anyone stupid enough to dance around it.

[nscode]

it was a war waged from 20,000 feet, and it had to be ass-kissed all the way because the politicians kept a hammer lock on targets, the politicians likely didnt want to appear to be "dirty" and destroy the remains and kill anyone stupid enough to dance around it.

 

 

They targeted schools and hospitals... that's why I take little from that argument.

 

 

I have a question: How many undetected, undisturbed F-117 sorties were flown in the area before and after the route of this one was leaked so that a listening post could be set up just for it?

 

Not too many.. but it wasn't the first one, for sure

[Vati]

Also, from what I heard from a F-117 pilot turned F-15 pilot, the F-117 in question was bagged by the very NVA tactic of spamming the skies with active radar and semi-active radar missiles, one just got lucky enough to bag the -117.

This reminds me of the following saying...

"If enemy succeeds, it is because they got lucky. When we succeed, it is because of our superior skill"

[Groove]

They targeted schools and hospitals...

 

Did they targeted the buildings or maybe some military hardware wich was parked near this buildings ?

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Did they targeted the buildings or maybe some military hardware wich was parked near this buildings ?

I hope they targeted military hardware. There are videos on NATO web site about bombing Yugoslavia. At list one of them have been edited over time. Sad.

In my opinion, collateral damage was not the reason NATO did not bomb F-117 wreckage.