F-117A Nighthawk

F-117A Nighthawk

Role

Attacker

Variants

A/F-117X NAV Hawk

DLC / Special Variants

• F-117A -YUKIHO-
• F-117A -Stars and Stripes-

Appearances

• Air Combat
• Ace Combat 2
• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
• Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion
• Ace Combat: Joint Assault
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
• Ace Combat Infinity
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

"Our ground unit's taking stealth fighter attacks. Can anyone out there provide support?"

― AWACS Ghost Eye during the Gracemeria cruise missile attack

The F-117A Nighthawk is a stealth aircraft designed primarily for ground attack. It made its debut in Air Combat and has featured in almost every Ace Combat game since. It is playable in every appearance except Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. Despite the real-life Nighthawk not possessing a Machine Gun or air-to-air attack capabilities, both are depicted on the Nighthawk in all of its Ace Combat appearances.

History

Strangereal

The Nighthawk was used by a number of air forces around the world. The Belkan Air Force used this attacker during the Belkan War, and it was the choice aircraft of a number of aces.

Erusea used a pair of these bombers to attack ISAF Army forces during Operation Sandstorm. The ISAF Air Force also had access to this aircraft during the conflict.

During the Circum-Pacific War, the Yuktobanian Air Force made infamous use of this aircraft during their attack on November City to kill Osea's senior leadership.

During the Emmeria-Estovakia War, the Estovakian Air Force employed the Nighthawk as a stealth bomber and attack aircraft. During the battle of the Selumna Peaks, Estovakian ace Gunther Kleiber, callsign Dzhoker, attempted to launch a surprise attack on the Emmerian ground forces. Later, during the Gracemeria cruise missile attack, the Estovakian Air Force deployed a squadron of Nighthawks to destroy Emmerian ground positions and weaken their ability to intercept their missiles.

During the Lighthouse War, Erusea deployed multiple F-117As in an attempt to bomb Stonehenge as the Osean Army attempted to repair it.

Nighthawks were also flown in the Aurelian War, notably by Otus Squadron of the Aurelian Air Force. Leasath also deployed them against the Aurelian submarine Naiad, but were all destroyed by Gryphus One.

Joint Assault universe

The Valahia dispatched several Nighthawks, including one of their aces, Nightowl, to intercept Andre Olivieri's private jet which was attempting to escape Valahia controlled airspace.

Infinity universe

The design of the Nighthawk was acquired by Wernher and Noah Enterprises and mass-produced for sale with their Advanced Automated Aviation Plant. This aircraft was the preferred attacker of a number of mercenary groups, many of whom used them during Operation Eternal Liberation.

Gameplay

Ace Combat 7: Skies UnknownAce Combat InfinityAce Combat: Assault Horizon LegacyAce Combat: Assault HorizonAce Combat: Joint AssaultAce Combat Xi: Skies of IncursionAce Combat 6: Fires of LiberationAce Combat X: Skies of DeceptionAce Combat Zero: The Belkan WarAce Combat 5: The Unsung WarAce Combat 04: Shattered SkiesAce Combat 2Air Combat

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

How to Unlock

This aircraft is not available to the player.

Gallery

• 

  An Erusean Air Force F-117A

Ace Combat Infinity

"The first ever stealth attacker, specialized for secret bombing runs. As the design is focused entirely on stealth capabilities the aircraft is lacking in speed and maneuverability. On the flipside, however, remaining off enemy radar allows it to use guided bombs to perform pinpoint strikes. It has unique shape comprised of plane surfaces and a special paint job in order to reflect and absorb radar waves. Known as the "Nighthawk", it gained recognition during the 1991 Gulf War for flying more than 1200 sorties without a single one of the aircraft being shot down."

― Hangar

Lv.	Cst	Price	GUN	MSL	GPB	SOD	LAGM	SP	MO	ST	AA	AG	DF
1	575	129,600	286	108	4	–	–	F+	E+	D+	E+	D+	E+
2	614	14,400	314	110	6	–	–	E	D	C	E+	C	D
3	653	20,880	343	112	8	–	–	E+	D	C	D	C	D+
4	692	38,160	371	114	9	13	–	D	D+	C+	D	C+	C
5	731	64,800	400	118	10	14	–	D+	D+	B	D	C+	C+
6	770	158,400	428	122	12	16	–	D+	C	B	D	B	B
7	809	78,000	457	126	13	17	18	D+	C	B	D	B+	B+
8	848	151,200	486	130	14	18	20	C	C	B	D+	B+	B+
9	887	345,600	515	134	15	19	21	C	C+	B+	D+	B+	A
10	926	788,400	544	138	16	20	22	C+	C+	B+	D+	B+	A+
11	973	1,752,000	572	142	17	21	23	B	B	A	D+	A	S
12	1020	1,284,000	601	146	18	22	24	B+	B+	A	C	A+	S+
13	1067	2,328,000	630	150	19	23	25	B+	B+	A+	C	S	S+
14	1114	3,216,000	659	154	20	24	26	A	A	S	C+	S	S+
15	1161	4,320,000	688	158	22	26	28	A+	A	S+	C+	S+	S+
16	1221	6,048,000	714	160	23	27	29	S	A+	S+	C+	S+	S+
17	1280	6,912,000	740	162	24	28	30	S	A+	S+	B	S+	S++
18	1339	7,776,000	767	164	25	29	31	S+	A+	S+	B+	S+	S++
19	1398	9,936,000	793	166	26	30	32	S+	S	S+	B+	S+	S++
20	1457	12,528,000	820	168	28	32	34	S+	S	S+	A	S+	S++

Part Slots

At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 18 BODY, 18 ARMS, and 18 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.

Nicknames

Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.

• Lv.3: Midnight Bird
• Lv.10: Diamond Cut
• Lv.15: Gopher Wood
• Lv.20: Long Distance Driver

Skin Galleries

DefaultEvent Skin #01Event Skin #02

Description

Black body

Gallery

• 
• 

  Hangar view
• 

Description

"Gray Dragon" paint scheme; two-tone gray camouflage

Availability

• Top 1,000 participants in the "It's payback time!" Online Co-Op Missions Ranking Tournament (January 14–20, 2015)
• Purchase from the Skilled Pilot Medal exchange for 20 (January 15, 2017–permanent)

Gallery

• 

  Hangar view
• 

  Flyby view

Description

Desert camouflage; based on the first production model of the Nighthawk

Availability

• Top 3,000 participants in the "END OF DECEPTION" Online Co-Op Missions Ranking Tournament (December 8–21, 2015)
• Purchase from the Skilled Pilot Medal exchange for 8 (May 16, 2016–permanent)

Gallery

• 

  Hangar view
• 

  Flyby view

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

"The latest in stealth technology comes at the cost of maneuverability and weapons load."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete "Midnight Assassin" in a second playthrough or complete 2 Extra Missions. Costs 54,200 credits.

Statistics

Weapons

• MSSL x80
• UGB x8
• GPB x8 (costs 13,100)
• MPM x10 (costs 21,300)

Colors

• C01: Black body
• C02: Black and gray camouflage
• C03: Gray body
• C04: Green and brown camouflage
• C05: Purple body with yellow accent
• C06: 2-tone blue camouflage

Named Pilots

• D. Cowboy — Found in Opera House. Spawns close to the fuel tanks. The ace will leave the map if not shot down within a certain period of time.

Gallery

• 

  D. Cowboy
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  Color 1
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  Color 2
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  Color 3
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  Color 4
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  Color 5
• 

  Color 6

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

"The historic first stealth aircraft which specializes in covert bombing. Because of its detailed airframe design which suppresses target detection, speed and maneuverability is limited. Instead, it is able to conduct pinpoint bombardments with long range, ground missiles and guided bombs without being detected by enemy radar nets. In order to reflect and absorb radar waves, it uses a unique airframe shape and coating configured to make a flat surface. Called the "Nighthawk", more than 1,200 sorties were made with them in the 1991 Gulf War."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Made available at the opening of "Hostile Fleet".

Statistics

• Speed: Medium
• Mobility: Low
• Stability: Medium
• Fire Power: High
• Defense: Very High

Weapons

• MSL x194
• GPB x34
• LAGM x20
• Flares x9

Gallery

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• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ace Combat: Joint Assault

"The latest in stealth technology comes at the cost of maneuverability and weapons load."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete campaign mission 15, "Grand Flight". The F-117A costs 40,400 credits to purchase.

Statistics

Speed: 30

Air-to-Air: 30

Air-to-Ground: 60

Mobility: 50

Stability: 70

Defense: 45

Weapons

• STDM ×120
• HACM ×80 — costs 7,200 credits; unlocked after one sortie with STDM
• LGWM ×160 — costs 10,000 credits; unlocked after one sortie with HACM, or two sorties with STDM
• HVWM ×40 — costs 13,600 credits; unlocked after one sortie with LGWM, or three sorties with STDM and/or HACM
• UGBL ×20
• GPB ×16 — costs 15,800 credits; unlocked after two sorties with UGBL
• LAGM ×14 — costs 27,000 credits; unlocked after two sorties with GPB, or three sorties with UGBL
• ODMM ×24 — costs 71,400 credits; unlocked after two sorties with LAGM, or four sorties with UGBL and/or GPB

Colors

1. All-black camouflage — default
2. Forest camouflage — unlocked after earning 10,400 cumulative points with the F-117A (20% of Kill Rate)
3. "Gray Dragon" two-tone gray camouflage — unlocked after earning 20,800 cumulative points with the F-117A (40% of Kill Rate)
4. Two tone black-gray camouflage — unlocked after earning 31,200 cumulative points with the F-117A (60% of Kill Rate)
5. "Nightowl" cloudlike camouflage pattern with crescent emblem — unlocked after earning 41,600 cumulative points with the F-117A (80% of Kill Rate)
6. Worn-out two-tone monochrome camouflage — unlocked after earning 52,000 cumulative points with the F-117A (100% of Kill Rate)

Named Units

• Nightowl — appears in "Grand Flight" after the 747 200B escapes the ravine. Since the 747 does not have weapons, Nightowl can only be shot down in multiplayer.

Gallery

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• 

  Nightowl
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  Color 1
• 

  Color 2
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  Color 3
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  Color 4
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  Color 5
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  Color 6

Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion

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Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

"The “Nighthawk” is the first fully stealth capable aircraft. Its unique shape and special coating are designed to absorb and reduce enemy radar. Advanced stealth characteristics allow the F-117A to operate freely while evading enemy detection. Although its payload is limited, bunker penetrating bombs give its formidable pinpoint striking capabilities. A complete deviation from traditional fighter design, the F-117A is a revolutionary attack aircraft designed solely for stealth."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete mission 10: "Ragno Fortress".

Statistics

Weapons

GUN x800 (∞ on Easy/Normal)

MSSL x130

GPB x65

QAAM x15

LASM x35

Colors

• Emmeria: "Grey Dragon" two-tone grey camouflage.
• Estovakia: Production black paintjob with registration number “TT 988” and low visibility markings.
• Estovakia SP: YF-117 three-tone desert camouflage with registration number “TT 300” and high visibility markings.
• F-117A -GENERAL EMBLEM-: Emmerian scheme with General Resource Limited roundels
• Razgriz: Razgriz Squadron black with red tail tips scheme from Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
• F-117A -YUKIHO-: Blue with white stripes, white nose and large image of character Yukiho Hagiwara on left wing

Named Pilots

Gunther Kleiber

Gallery

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• 

  F-117A -YUKIHO-
• 

  The Nighthawk of Gunther Kleiber (Dzhoker)
• 

  Gunther Kleiber in flight over the Selumna Peaks
• 

  Another view of Gunther Kleiber
• 

  Skin 1 - Emmeria
• 

  Skin 2 - Estovakia
• 

  Skin 3 - Estovakia SP (Dzhoker)
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  Skin 4 - General Emblem <Pack 05>
• 

  Skin 5 - Razgriz <Pack 08>
• 

  Skin 6 - The Idolmaster Yuhiko <Pack 03>

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception

"The latest in stealth technology comes at the cost of maneuverability and weapons load."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete Mission 9A: "Blitz". Costs 30,500 credits.

Statistics

Weapons

• MSSL x54
• GPB x16
• UGBL x14
• LAGM x12

Colors

• Aurelia: All-black camouflage
• Leasath: Forest camouflage
• Special 1: "Gray Dragon" two-tone gray camouflage
• Special 2: Two tone black-gray camouflage

Named Pilots

• Inferno — Found in "In Pursuit I". Appears to the north after the real power generators are destroyed.

Gallery

• 

  Inferno
• 

  Aurelia color
• 

  Leasath color
• 

  Special 1 color
• 

  Special 2 color

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

"Nicknamed the "Nighthawk," this stealth aircraft represents the latest technology. However, its stealth capabilities come at the cost of maneuverability and weapons load."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete mission 14B: "The Final Overture - Mercury Strike Team". Costs $109,000.

Statistics

Speed: 39

Mobility: 38

Stability: 81

Defense: 75

Air-to-Air: 39

Air-to-Ground: 91

Weapons

• MSSL x54
• GPB x16
• LAGM x12
• QAAM x8

Colors

• Standard: Black body
• Mercenary: Forest camouflage
• Soldier: "Gray Dragon" two-tone gray camouflage
• Knight: Three-tone Ferris camo
• Special: Desert camouflage; based on the first production model of the Nighthawk

Named Pilts

Regen

Spuk

Schauer

Schatten

Gallery

• 

  An F-117A being refueled
• 
• 

  Standard color
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  Mercenary color
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  Soldier color
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  Knight color
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  Special color

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

"Nicknamed the "Nighthawk," this attack aircraft employs cutting-edge stealth technology to avoid radar detection, at the cost of maneuverability and weapon load."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete campaign mission 15: "White Noise". Costs 20,100 per aircraft.

Statistics

Speed: 39

Mobility: 38

Stability: 81

Defense: 75

Air-to-Air: 39

Air-to-Ground: 91

Weapons

• MSSL x54
• GPB x16

Colors

• OS: "Gray Dragon" two-tone gray camouflage
• RZ: Original "Nighthawk" all-black camouflage
• YK: Forest camouflage

Gallery

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  OSEA color in the hangar
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  Razgriz color in the hangar
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  An F-117A in Yuktobanian colors
• 

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

"Although difficult to detect by radar, this Stealth attacker is limited by a small payload capacity."

― Hangar

How to Unlock

Complete campaign mission 10: "Tango Line". Costs 386,000 credits.

Statistics

Speed: Low

Air-to-Air: Low

Air-to-Ground: High

Mobility: Low

Stability: High

Defense: High

Weapons

GUN x650

MSSL x54

UGBL x14

PGB x14

CLB x14

Named Pilots

Kwee

Colors

• Standard: Black
• Erusea: Grey
• Special: Grey/Dark Grey two-tone Digital camouflage

Gallery

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  ISAF color scheme hangar
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  Erusean color scheme hangar
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  Ace Kwee color scheme hangar
• 

  Kwee

Ace Combat 2

How to Unlock

Complete mission 9: "Swordsmith". Costs $130,000.

Statistics

Power: 60

Defense: 60

Mobility: 40

Stability: 50

Climbing Ability: 60

Air-to-Air: 60

Air-to-Ground: 80

Duration of flight: 16 minutes

Absorbability: Normal

Weapons

• MSSL x80

Named Pilots

Razorback

Gallery

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• 

  Player color
• 

  Ally/wingman color
• 

  Enemy color A
• 

  Enemy color B
• 

  Razorback

Air Combat

The aircraft is displayed as F-117.

How to Unlock

EASY

Complete mission 1: "Destroy Enemy Supply Lines"

NORMAL

Complete mission 1: "Destroy Enemy Supply Lines"

HARD

Complete mission 1: "Destroy Enemy Supply Lines"

Price

$4,000,000 — original price

$3,600,000 — after first discount

$3,200,000 — after second discount

$2,400,000 — after third discount

Statistics

Defense: 1

Power: 2

Mobility: 1

Offense: 1

Stability: 1

Named Pilots

Baron (available as a wingman)

Gallery

• 

  F-117 in Scarface Squadron color
• 

  F-117 in enemy color

Trivia

• In the book Master File: ASF-X Shinden II, the section on the CFA-44 refers to the F-117 as the "Model-117A".
• The "Mercenary" paint scheme in ACZ, the "Yuktobanian" scheme in AC5, the "Estovakia SP" scheme in AC6, the "Colour 2" scheme in AC:JA, and the "Leasath" scheme in ACX are based on the experimental camouflage scheme tested by Nighthawk 79-10780 in 1984.