Why doesn't the F-117 have a radar?

Hobo wrote:
Is it because a radar wouldn't fit into the funny shape of the
aircraft or because LPI radar of that era wasn't good enough?

LPI was pretty much non-existent when the F-117 was designed anyway.
Remember that this was essentially a late 1970s design, with the first
planes delivered in the very early 1980s.

They made a decision not to use any active sensors in the design, and the
space where a radar might go was taken up by the two FLIR balls instead.

OTOH, some of the notional Navy F-117 developments had radar, so it was not
physically impossible to install. However, the Navy F-117s were much later
ideas (early 1990s) and radar tech had advanced. In any case, they would
probably not have expected to stay stealthy with the radar active.

--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)

"Thomas Schoene" wrote in message k.net...
Hobo wrote:
Is it because a radar wouldn't fit into the funny shape of the
aircraft or because LPI radar of that era wasn't good enough?

No, because the F-117 doesn't need it, broadcasting its location over
priority targets.
The engagement profile of the F-117 is simple:
The F-117 detects its targets with FLIR in the nose turret. Bombing
from a medium altitude the F-117s fire-control computer calculates the
proper release point for the weapons to reach the general target
vicinity. Weapons release will generally be at a range of 1 to 2 miles
out. Closer to the target control is switched to the DLIR turret
equipped witha laser designator. As the weapon approaches the target
the laser designator goes into action. Sensors in the nose of the
weapon now steer it toward the reflection where it detonates with
devastating accuracy. Pretty simple.
However, in the brief time the F-117 opens its bomb bay doors and
drops the weapons the plane is vunerable to radar, causing a instant
"bloomer" onscreen. It then ceases to be invisible. In ODS, Capt. Matt
Byrd flying "Habu 2" over Baghdad was detected and fired upon by an
SA-3 battery with two near misses.
No matter what the claim, the F-117 is NOT invisible. The EADS
anti-stealth missile exploits stealth vunerability. It has a highly
advanced multi-sensor seeker that features acoustic, electro-optical,
and plume detection. This makes sense as the F-117/B-2/F-22 all make
noise, can be visually seen, and emit exhaust.

Rob