History of Stealth aircraft in Timeline

Stealth aircraft utilize technologies to minimize detection by radar, infrared, visible light, RF spectrum, and audio signals. This is achieved through techniques known as stealth technology. The F-117 Nighthawk was the first operational aircraft designed with stealth as a primary focus. Other notable stealth aircraft include the B-2 Spirit, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, Chengdu J-20, Shenyang J-35, and Sukhoi Su-57.

1916: British Modify Airship for Night Reconnaissance

In 1916, the British modified a small SS class airship for night-time aerial reconnaissance over German lines on the Western Front. It had a silenced engine and a black gas bag, making it invisible and inaudible from the ground. However, the flights produced little useful intelligence, and the idea was dropped.

1940: Development of Flying Wing Aircraft by Jack Northrop

In 1940, Jack Northrop developed the flying wing aircraft, influencing the design of the B-2 Spirit. This design provided stability and yaw control without vertical surfaces.

January 1968: First Combat Use of Purpose-Designed Stealth Aircraft

In January 1968, the first combat use of purpose-designed stealth aircraft occurred during Operation "Prize Crew", where two Lockheed Missiles and Space Company QT-2 (Quiet Thrusters) operated in near silence over South Vietnam at low altitudes at night without running lights.

June 1970: Deployment of Army-Lockheed YO-3A "Quiet Star" to Vietnam

In June 1970, nine of the eleven production airplanes of the Army-Lockheed YO-3A "Quiet Star" were deployed to Vietnam. They operated silently at night, without running lights, and were equipped with advanced night vision equipment, successfully shutting down the VC night movement in the Delta.

1975: Lockheed Engineers Find Low Radar Signature with Faceted Surfaces

In 1975, engineers at Lockheed Skunk Works discovered that aircraft made with faceted surfaces could have very low radar signatures, as the surfaces radiated almost all radar energy away from the receiver.

1977: US Flies Full-Size Stealth Combat Aircraft Demonstrator

In 1977, the United States flew a full-size stealth combat aircraft demonstrator, marking an early milestone in stealth technology development.

1977: DARPA Contracts Lockheed to Build Have Blue Demonstrator

Under a 1977 contract from DARPA, Lockheed built a proof-of-concept demonstrator aircraft, the Lockheed Have Blue, nicknamed "the Hopeless Diamond". This design, while aerodynamically unstable, demonstrated the potential of stealth aircraft.

1983: Reimar Horten Claims Addition of Charcoal to Ho 229

In 1983, Reimar Horten, the designer of the Horten Ho 229, claimed he planned to add charcoal to the adhesive layers of the plywood skin to render it invisible to radar.

December 1989: F-117s Bomb Panamanian Defense Force Barracks

On 20 December 1989, during Operation Just Cause in Panama, two United States Air Force F-117s bombed a Panamanian Defense Force barracks in Rio Hato, Panama.

1989: F-117 Used in Combat During US Invasion of Panama

In 1989, the F-117 was first used in combat during the United States invasion of Panama, marking the combat debut of stealth aircraft.

1990: F-117s in the Gulf War

In 1990, during the Gulf War, 42 F-117s flew 1,299 sorties and scored 1,664 direct hits with laser-guided bombs without suffering battle damage, hitting 1,600 high-value targets in Iraq. They struck 40% of the strategic targets despite only representing 2.5% of the American aircraft in Iraq.

1991: F-117s Attack Heavily Fortified Targets in Iraq

In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, F-117s were tasked with attacking the most heavily fortified targets in Iraq and were the only coalition aircraft allowed to operate inside Baghdad's city limits and over its airspace.

1997: Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Enters Service

In 1997, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit entered service. As of 2025, it remains one of the only crewed stealth aircraft in service.

April 1999: Second F-117 possibly struck during Operation Allied Force

During Operation Allied Force, on April 30, 1999, a second F-117 was reportedly targeted and possibly struck, returning in damaged condition to Spangdahlem Air Base and reportedly did not fly again. The incident remains classified, but another F-117A pilot corroborated the event in 2020.

1999: F-117 Shot Down During NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia

During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, a USAF F-117 was shot down by a Serbian Isayev S-125 'Neva-M' missile brigade. This event marks one confirmed shootdown of a stealth aircraft. A second F-117 was damaged in a separate incident.

2000: Russia Flies Full-Size Stealth Combat Aircraft Demonstrator

In 2000, Russia flew a full-size stealth combat aircraft demonstrator, showcasing its advancements in stealth technology.

2003: F-117s and B-2s Used in Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, during the invasion of Iraq, F-117 Nighthawks and B-2 Spirits were deployed, marking the last combat use of the F-117. The B-2 Spirits conducted 49 sorties, releasing more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions.

2005: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Enters Service

In 2005, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor entered service. As of 2025, it remains one of the only crewed stealth aircraft in service.

December 2007: SAAB Reveals Associative Aperture Synthesis Radar System

In December 2007, SAAB researchers revealed details for the Associative Aperture Synthesis Radar (AASR) system, designed to detect stealthy cruise missiles and low-flying stealth aircraft by creating a shadow when targets pass between transmitters and receivers.

2008: Northrop Grumman Tests Ho 229 for Stealth Characteristics

In 2008, Northrop Grumman Corporation performed tests to determine if the Horten Ho 229's shape would have avoided detection by Britain's Chain Home early warning radar. The testing found no evidence of charcoal use and concluded it lacked stealth characteristics and was never intended as a stealth aircraft.

May 2011: Stealth Helicopter Used in Operation to Kill Osama bin Laden

During the May 2011 operation to kill Osama bin Laden, a stealth helicopter used to insert U.S. troops crashed in the compound, revealing the operational use of stealth helicopters.

2011: China Flies Full-Size Stealth Combat Aircraft Demonstrator

In 2011, China flew a full-size stealth combat aircraft demonstrator, indicating its growing capabilities in stealth aircraft development.

2011: Stealth Aircraft Used in Intervention in Libya

In 2011, stealth aircraft were used in the military intervention in Libya, where B-2 Spirits dropped 40 bombs on a Libyan airfield with concentrated air defenses in support of the UN no-fly zone.

2011: China Starts Flight Testing Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter

In 2011, the People's Republic of China started flight testing its Chengdu J-20 stealth multirole fighter.

September 2014: F-22 Makes Combat Debut Over Syria

In September 2014, the F-22 made its combat debut over Syria as part of the U.S.-led coalition to defeat ISIS.

2015: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Enters Service

In 2015, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II entered service. As of 2025, it remains one of the only crewed stealth aircraft in service.

2016: Chengdu J-20 Public Appearance at Airshow China

In 2016, the Chengdu J-20 stealth multirole fighter made its first public appearance at Airshow China.

March 2017: Chengdu J-20 Enters Service with PLAAF

In March 2017, the Chengdu J-20 stealth multirole fighter entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

2017: Chengdu J-20 Enters Service

In 2017, the Chengdu J-20 entered service. As of 2025, it remains one of the only crewed stealth aircraft in service.

February 2018: Su-57 Deployed to Syria

From February 2018, Su-57s performed their first international flight as they were spotted landing at the Russian Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. These Su-57s were deployed along with four Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, four Sukhoi Su-25s, and one Beriev A-50 AEW&C aircraft and were likely armed with cruise missiles in combat.

May 2018: Israeli Air Force F-35I Carries Out First Strike in Combat

In May 2018, Major General Amikam Norkin of the IAF reported that Israeli Air Force F-35I stealth fighters carried out the first-ever F-35 strike in combat over Syria.

2020: Pilot Confirms Second F-117 Struck in 1999

In 2020, another F-117A pilot corroborated the reported event from April 30, 1999, during Operation Allied Force, where a second F-117 was possibly struck; however, the incident remains classified, and only limited details have been disclosed.

2020: Sukhoi Su-57 Enters Service

In 2020, the Sukhoi Su-57 entered service. As of 2025, it remains one of the only crewed stealth aircraft in service.

February 2021: MQ-28 Ghost Bat First Flight

In February 2021, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an unmanned stealth aircraft developed by Australia with Boeing Australia and BAE Australia, had its first flight.

2024: Delivery of MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 1 Aircraft

By 2024, eight MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft (Block 1) had been delivered, with more aircraft (Block 2) in production and some delivered.

2025: Shenyang J-35 Enters Service

In 2025, the Shenyang J-35 entered service, marking another operational crewed stealth aircraft in service.

March 4, 2026: First F-35 Air-to-Air Kill

On March 4, 2026, during the 2026 Iran conflict, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that an F-35I "Adir" shot down a Russian-manufactured Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, marking both the first F-35 air-to-air kill and the first air-to-air kill made by a stealth fighter.

March 2026: First Stealth Fighter Shootdown of Crewed Fighter

In March 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, an Israeli F-35I "Adir" stealth fighter shot down an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, marking the first instance of a stealth fighter shooting down a crewed fighter in combat.